Going to get my first Masdevallia amplexa soon

[crestedgeckogal]

Hello everyone. I am going to get my first Masdevallia in the next week or so, it's a xmas present from my mom that we ordered from blackjungle.com. I can't wait for it to come, but I am so worried. I live in CNY and I am afraid that the summer weather (when it comes) is going to be too much for my little orchid. Any care guides would definately be very helpful, I am not finding too much! Also, because of the high humidity requirements, should i keep it in a tank, or I was thinking a glass airtight storage canister (like you would use in a kitchen) without the top on? I just love the look of the canister. PLEASE HELP!

[shakkai]

Congrats on your first Masdie!! Masdevallia amplexa is listed as one that will tolerate intermediate-type temperatures, which for Masdies means around 70F during the day and 55F at night. They grow in the Andes Mountains in South America and it is one of the types that has multiple flowers open on each flower stalk.

You already know that it needs a high humidity environment, but the other thing to keep in mind is that it also need really good air movement. I'm not sure that a storage canister would help with that unless you could somehow have a fan that would move air into and out of it. (Note that the fan and evaporative cooling will also help keep the plant cooler when your summer temps get high.)

Good luck with your 'chid! And let us know what you decide. (And of course, post some photos!)