masdevallia puzzle ???

[mikethebike]

Hi orchid lovers.
I have a Masdevallia growing well but something looks a bit odd and i'm unsure if its normal and should let this carry on or if i need to something about it ??.The plant is growing well,looks healthy and looks great,very pretty, but after growing along horizontally in the medium for a while it has started to grow skywards,,at about 45degrees ??.The new shoots are healthy and put plenty of new leafs and aerial roots but is that ok to be growing away from the medium ?? or should i find a way to bury it all fully under a medium ?? its on a bright east facing windowsill behind a net curtain, and its in medium size bark chips with a small percentage of spag mixed in,and a moss lid for aesthetics and for some moisture retention.I have other Masdevallia types but they are all growing fully underground.Any help in understanding the situation better would be much appreciated particularly from any of the senior members..
Keep up the sterling work educating and guiding all us rookies .
regards.Michael.

[AJW]

Hi in your post you say "The plant is growing well,looks healthy and looks great,very pretty," It looks okay my only suggestion would be that if you have it to far from light that you rotate to ensure even coverage. With Masd. Good light makes the leaves darker and the flower stems shorter and stronger.

[mikethebike]

[Bulbopedilum]

No experience with masdies, or any pleurothallids, but I can say a few things. Aerial roots are aerial roots, they grow into the air, as the name implies. They are used for exchange of carbon with oxygen. Do not bury them or cut them, they are useful for the plant.

As for the growth direction, I believe masdies, or some of them do grow upward. But, I think that the light source is too far away for them, and the 45 degree tilt is the plant's attemp at moving closer to the light source.

So, the roots are okay, and put it closer to the light.

[mikethebike]

ok thanks for that.As i said in the post its on a very bright windowsill so it cant possibly be stretching for the light.thanks anyway.michael.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I think they actually naturally grow this way. In the wild, they are not growing on flat surfaces. This species is primarily found as an epiphyte where branches can grow in all different directions.

This growth habit is actually not unique to your plant. It happens to many of our epiphytic orchids that grow in a sympodial manner. It is also a common thing I see amongst many Masdevallias. It is probably more noticeable on a Masdevallia because it grows comparatively faster than most other commonly grown orchids.

It happens to Cattleyas. It happens to Oncidiums. It happens to Dendrobiums. Many of the well known genera of orchids eventually, over time will do the same thing your Masdevallia did.

The "aerial roots" on your Masdevallia should be kept humid. In a dry setting over time, they could shrivel and die.

You can easily train those growths to stay closer to the surface of the potting medium by using floral wires. Just don't force the issue when training them or you could end up breaking things.

[PaphMadMan]

I agree it is just normal for many orchids to grow "up" and climb out of a pot eventually. Sometimes it is a response to media gone bad though, staying too wet and soggy, breaking down and lacking aeration. If you are sure that is not the case, and light also is not an issue, then your plant is just doing what comes naturally.

[mikethebike]

Many thanks to theking and madman.Both responses make great sense of whats happening and are both very reassuring.Thank you both very much.
regards Michael.