Ice Orchid Masdevallia

[vanda2020]

For everyone who really want to try a masdevallia in less than perfect conditions. I have been trying this with the following masdevallia.

Masdevallia. Beth Cox watered with ice. Ice has little dissolved solids 5ppm, so pretty pure water. Indoor grower north east window, some morning sun in spring and bright light rest of time. Cool room 45 to 60 degrees in late fall and winter. 85 degrees in summer indoors, outside it can be 95 to over 100 degrees, a semi arid climate. Summer I fill hole at top with ice twice a day to keep orchid cool and once a day place a little ice on the moss to keep moss around plant moist.. Since growing this way I have more thicker leaves and less blemish on leaves. Going to try this on a Dracula next. Only cool cloud orchids do I water with ice never tropical warm growers.

[jeremyinsf]

That's dedication!!!

How well does it flower for you?

[MattWoelfsen]

Hi vanda2020, your mounted Masdevallia does look healthy. You refer this to a cloud plant, I understand many Masdevallia come from mountainous places, do you know if there is a listing of these plants? I'd like to try your technique. Thank you for sharing.

[vanda2020]

The breeding is Masdevallia Avalon Pellegrini x Masdevallia Pixie Shadow.

This is a new cross from 2009.

Since starting to grow it this way it has really started to take off and it should bloom soon. When it blooms I will post a picture.

[euplusia]

Haven't seen a 'Masdevallia on the rocks' so far. But Masdies like a shower with pretty cold water of 10-12°C according to my own experience.

[Vanda lover]

That's an interesting idea. It gets hot and dry here in the summer, so I have my masd in a clay pot in sphag, which sits inside another clay pot, on top of some clay pellets in a dish of water. The evaporation works well, but I have often wondered if ice would work. Perhaps in the dish underneath.

[Tabbyblack13]

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

That's an interesting idea. It gets hot and dry here in the summer, so I have my masd in a clay pot in sphag, which sits inside another clay pot, on top of some clay pellets in a dish of water. The evaporation works well, but I have often wondered if ice would work. Perhaps in the dish underneath.

Vanda: since cold air sinks I would look at getting the ice on top of the clay pellets near the edge of the pot. That way the cold air will flow around the plant and sink into moss.

This is a really interesting idea. Since my house is so small I wouldn't be able to do this but I like the idea of it.


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[Vanda lover]

It doesn't take much more space, the outer pot only has to be slightly larger that the pot that the orchid is in. On the hottest days the pot feels cool to the touch and cool roots seem to be the main thing. All that evaporation also provides good humidity.

[No-Pro-mwa]

I have been wondering about trying one myself. I have the same window as you North East very cool in this window, especially in the winter. My Mannii is fine in it but it does get cold, really cold when the wind blows. I have been checking it for several days and it has gotten in the 50's F outside but has not gotten over 69 in the window. Lows have been 53 in the window. And next week it will be getting colder. When the wind is blowing I do take out my other orchids if I have them in it. The only problem I may have is the humidity.

Looks like yours is doing very well and I like your setup with the mount.

[Vanda lover]

It sounds like you have good conditions for growing masd. Humidity is a problem mainly when you get bitterly cold weather, when your heating is on a lot. With your conditions you wouldn't need the ice to cool the plants, but some form of humidifier or humidity tray would help. With mine, the humidity is only a problem in the summer but the clay takes care of that. The ice would be great for using in the summer.