Growing Dracula and Masdevallia indoor over the summer

[YPGH28]

Hi everyone,
I am new to OB, my name is Yarikza and I live in savannah, Georgia. I was recently given a Dracula and Masdevallia as a present. I know that they are cool growing orchids, but I wanted to know if I could get some tips on how to care for them, which media is best based on your experience, and how to care for them inside once summer comes around, it gets really hot over here? Any tips and advice are greatly appreciated thank you 😀

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Here are some general care tips for Dracula:

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...acula-spp.html

Please name the Dracula and the Masdevallia, and I'll be more specific for you.

I can make a Masdevallia general care tip thread later.

[YPGH28]

Thank you so much for getting back so quickly. I am not sure which kind they are but I will post pictures below. My Masdevallia has very little roots, but it seems to be growing a new leaf or something on both sides. As for my Dracula it has grown many new roots and is also growing something on the side as shown in the pictures below.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Your Dracula and Masdevallia have some new shoots coming along.

The Dracula's new roots look good. Keep humidity as high as possible, but I don't recommend that much moss. That's way, way too much. You need to get yourself a 3 inch net pot, and some packing peanuts. Only put as much moss as there are roots. Use RO/DI water only for everything.

The Masdevallia is looking pretty bad. I would get a 3 inch net pot and do the same thing. When the Masdevallia grows more roots, then you can place it in a more traditional pot made for orchids, (the ones with lots of drain holes/slots, preferably the clear plastic ones).

Keep them cool, no warmer than 75 F during the daytime at any given time during the year, since I have no idea what they are. Do not go lower than 50 F, again, because I don't know what they are.

Again, keep the humidity as high as possible, a cool mist humidifier or fogger is your friend. Only use RO/DI water with these machines.

If the person who gifted these plants to you knows what they are, then all the more better.

[YPGH28]

Thanks again for the info, will do. My friend sent me this picture for the Dracula.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I can only hazard a guess because the photo is kinda hazy.

I would also need a good photo of the lip details.

I'm guessing it could be Dracula venefica. I'm not 100% about the ID, but I think I'm very close.

If it isn't a species, then it could be a hybrid with Dracula venefica, idk. Some Dracula species look similar to each other in photos. Not to mention, there is some variation between individuals in color pattern, so it isn't easy to tell from a fuzzy photo that doesn't show the lip details up close what they are.

Should it really be Dracula venefica, the temperature tolerance for this species is about 50 F - 85 F.

If it is Drac venefica, then the flowers should be fairly large.




If you can provide an ID or a picture of the Masdevallia's flowers, that would help. Pictures of the leaves alone are not good enough to ID orchids in this genus as well.

[YPGH28]

Thank you so much for all your help, if I am able to get some more pictures i'll post them. Which cool mist humidifier would you recommend? and do you know what I can do once summer comes around, to keep them cool?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

During the summer, crank up the AC and continue to use the cool mist humidifier.

I don't have a recommendation for what brand of machine is the best, you can search the web for a review.