MASDEVALLIA problems. Help!

[silken]

Originally Posted by orchideya

Silken, are you talking about decumana? Do you grow it indoors?
Thanks

No, not decumana. But a hybrid called Highland Fling (3/4 veitchiana). I don't know if its the conditions I give it or just this plant, but it seems the almost transparent little membrane that surrounds the bud does not give way and the bud twists and turns and tries to get out until it dies. It was getting 60% to 65% humidity or more and good air movement. So I have moved it and am actually trying to catch it at a good time when I can cut the membrane and free the bloom.

I've just recently bought a few more masdies and I would like one or more to bloom to see if they have the same issue. Then I would know its something in my culture.

Mine are mostly cool growing and grow in the greenhouse. Summer is a bit of a challenge!

[NeoNJ]

My other problem is wrapping my head around the cultural requirement of "Cool Temps and Full Sun".
How does one maintain cool temps in an area that is receiving Full sun ?

I would like to have Masd. veitch. but read that it requires "Cool temps & Full sun". I would not know how to begin to be able to provide that in my home.

---------- Post added at 11:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:17 AM ----------

Originally Posted by silken

No, not decumana. But a hybrid called Highland Fling (3/4 veitchiana). I don't know if its the conditions I give it or just this plant, but it seems the almost transparent little membrane that surrounds the bud does not give way and the bud twists and turns and tries to get out until it dies. It was getting 60% to 65% humidity or more and good air movement. So I have moved it and am actually trying to catch it at a good time when I can cut the membrane and free the bloom.

I've just recently bought a few more masdies and I would like one or more to bloom to see if they have the same issue. Then I would know its something in my culture.

Mine are mostly cool growing and grow in the greenhouse. Summer is a bit of a challenge!

I have two plants of Masd. Highland Fling "Orange Sherbert". One of them is in spike/bud. They get good air movement (fan) but I don't worry about humidity. And both plants are growing very well.

Originally Posted by NeoNJ

My other problem is wrapping my head around the cultural requirement of "Cool Temps and Full Sun".
How does one maintain cool temps in an area that is receiving Full sun ?

I would like to have Masd. veitch. but read that it requires "Cool temps & Full sun". I would not know how to begin to be able to provide that in my home.

During winter time you could put it on the sunny windowsil very close to the glass. That area is always colder during frosty winter days for me.
During summer, maybe put an ice pack beside the plant and change it couple times a day(I read on some forum, maybe here, some windowsil grower does it, although sounds like a lot of work)



Ecuagenera website lists veitch as medium light masdie.

[silken]

I can get cool and sunny in the greenhouse in the winter. A bit more of a challenge in the summer for the cool part. But I improvise by keeping those type of plants low to the floor near the cool air source.

[RosieC]

I gow for cool at the root zone. I grow veitchianna in moss in a porous clay pot, with another clay pot outside it with lecca in and water in the bottom (not in contact with the smaller pot). The evaporation from the clay and lecca significantly cools the root zone (just make sure it doesn't fully dry out as then it can get much too warm).

I got the idea from Ray. See the link here which has a diagram of what I mean. "Stretch" Your Growing Conditions

Plants with a cool root zone can cope with higher air temperatures and my veitichanna does well for both growth and flowers.

That's a great suggestion, Rosie. I am going to try it on decumana when it comes.
My masdie is in the basement now along with dracula and paphs. It is slightly cooler than the rest of the house, but there is no full sun, just medium light and I am not sure if it will be cold enough during summer. So I might need this clay pot in pot trick too.

[silken]

Winter is easy to do cold or cool here but I will have to try that clay pot and Leca set-up this summer. I bet some of the Milts will like ti too!

[RosieC]

I removed the outer pots and lecca for the winter, as the greenhouse is very cool then anyway and I didn't want them to get too cold as a result, but for the summer they will be going back into that sort of setup as it seemed to work so well last year and the masdies grew like crazy and flowered really well.

[RJSquirrel]

Cool Temps and Full Sun are a result of these plants being found at elevations into the clouds. Its very cool gets a constant wet humid breeze and full sun. The key here is keep the plant cool to start with at all times. You start adding lights and you will start adding fans and misters to maintain the temps and humidity. I don't think right off humidity for these is going to kill them if its low, as long as the roots are still cool and wet. I have cured all these problems with JARWORLDS!!! ..its tooooo easy!!!

[silken]

Originally Posted by RJSquirrel

Cool Temps and Full Sun are a result of these plants being found at elevations into the clouds. Its very cool gets a constant wet humid breeze and full sun. The key here is keep the plant cool to start with at all times. You start adding lights and you will start adding fans and misters to maintain the temps and humidity. I don't think right off humidity for these is going to kill them if its low, as long as the roots are still cool and wet. I have cured all these problems with JARWORLDS!!! ..its tooooo easy!!!

Yours are the picture of health RJ. Is the jar full of wet moss and then a potted plant sitting in /on top of the moss?