Masdevallia yellow spikes no blooms

[jo514]

Hello
This came with two beautiful flowers and now sent up its second spike however the tip turned yellow again and no bloom. It is in a small pot, the leave look fine. What am I doing wrong?

[Brooke]

When I lose Masdie blooms like you did my humidity isn't high enough. Also I will have a spike die but then the next spikes produce blooms.

Brooke

[WhiteRabbit]

A number of factors could cause the buds to die.

How are you growing this? Light, temps, watering? Does it have a name?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Not all Masdevallias are cool growing. Too many people starting off with Masdevallias make this assumption. If you are growing them cool, I suggest you find out what they are and see if they really are cool growers. There are a lot of intermediate growing Masdevallias as well as a few warm growing ones. If you're growing an intermediate growing Masdevallia in cooler conditions, it may be able to handle the cooler temperatures, but it really would do better if it were a bit warmer.

Some Masevallias are also very difficult to grow for most people because many of us are in areas that eventually get too warm for some of these. Again, it helps to know what you have.

It also helps to know what the parameters of your growing area are as well.

Usually, if you're able to grow the Masevallia just fine, but get bud blast, one of the parameters to look at is humidity, as it might be too low.

I'd also check the roots. Root damage can also bring about bud blast.

[professor plant]

I have a few masdies that will produce a yellowed spike here and there. Once I can recognize them early I just cut them off. It tends to happen more with hybrids than species, for me at least.

My tanks always have high humidity and adequate light, ect. One thing that I have noticed that may have caused this, if culture is correctly handled, is the tightness in which I may pot the plant. If it is tighter than I prefer, bud blast can and has happened. When this has been corrected, the plant continues to bloom without porblems.

I have also noticed this happen as the seasons change and my tanks may start fluctuating in temps. As mentioned not all masdies prefer to grow at the similar temps. And some I keep drier than others. It is always a feeling out process. Just try not to overcompensate for the plant and continually readjust the growing conditions and they usually will continue to send out new spikes, without bud blast.

Happy growing.
Chad

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by professor plant

..And some I keep drier than others. It is always a feeling out process. Just try not to overcompensate for the plant and continually readjust the growing conditions and they usually will continue to send out new spikes, without bud blast.

This is true. Some Masdevallias are not cloud forest or montane forest epiphytes! In fact, some of them are lithophytic orchids, or may grow in drier environments in the wild. Be very aware of the type of Masdevallia you are growing. Again, like many of us has stated, not every single Masdevallia should be grown the same way.