January Status Report

[Ross]

Originally Posted by shakkai

I make sure they are watered with rainwater, barely fertilized and the windowsill location takes care of the rest - moderate indirect light, cool temps, constant air circulation. Judging by their reaction to the very cold weather we've been having here recently, they could probably be grown even cooler than what they are.

Shannon, what medium do you use for your Masdies? I have a couple that I received in sphagnum that constantly pleate the new shoots which then yellow and die. I have several I got from Ivan in Hawaii that are in a bark-based mix that don't do this. Temps are not a problem for me either (60ish F). But I have been using my standard MSU mix and I suspect I am blasting the new shoots with too much nutrients. Does that make sense? I have one that is totally potbound, in sphagnum, that I fertilize regularly and it hasn't so far pleated or bolted any growths. I suspect that may be the fact it is pot bound and sucking up all the nutrients it can get.

[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by Ross

Shannon, what medium do you use for your Masdies? I have a couple that I received in sphagnum that constantly pleate the new shoots which then yellow and die. I have several I got from Ivan in Hawaii that are in a bark-based mix that don't do this. Temps are not a problem for me either (60ish F). But I have been using my standard MSU mix and I suspect I am blasting the new shoots with too much nutrients. Does that make sense? I have one that is totally potbound, in sphagnum, that I fertilize regularly and it hasn't so far pleated or bolted any growths. I suspect that may be the fact it is pot bound and sucking up all the nutrients it can get.

Ross, after several failures with Masdevallias, I had a long conversation with an orchid grower from Germany who has a very large collection of Masdies. He grows most of his plants in pure sphagnum and said that the main trick is to provide them with almost no fertilizer... he water with RO and fertilize only once a month with less than 120 ppm N. He also commented that most plants are very sensitive to high light (it should not be more than for phalaenopsis), to which they react with yellowing of their leave (sometimes also some spots similars to those from fungi infections!) and consequent loss. Also important is that the sphagnum must be moist all the time, but nor dripping wet!

I applied his recommendation to my (currently) ONLY Masdevallia strobellii and it seems to work. I have this plant since May 2008, survived the hot summer here, and is now in buds (My previous Masdevallia Amazona, died within one month!)

[Ross]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

Ross, after several failures with Masdevallias, I had a long conversation with an orchid grower from Germany who has a very large collection of Masdies. He grows most of his plants in pure sphagnum and said that the main trick is to provide them with almost no fertilizer... he water with RO and fertilize only once a month with less than 120 ppm N. He also commented that most plants are very sensitive to high light (it should not be more than for phalaenopsis), to which they react with yellowing of their leave (sometimes also some spots similars to those from fungi infections!) and consequent loss. Also important is that the sphagnum must be moist all the time, but nor dripping wet!

I applied his recommendation to my (currently) ONLY Masdevallia strobellii and it seems to work. I have this plant since May 2008, survived the hot summer here, and is now in buds (My previous Masdevallia Amazona, died within one month!)

Ramon, I really think you have the key. I am too likely to soak mine in fertilizer when I know darned well to not do this . I plan to go entirely to RO water as you suggest with a short spritz of mixed fertilizer every couple weeks or less. But I wonder why it only happens with Masdies from one vendor. The ones I got from Ivan in Hawaii never pleat the growths. I have Ken Dole hybrid from both vendors and the one from Parkside pleats and the one from Ivan does not. Ivan's is in his original mix (I need to find out what that is) and the one from Parkside is in pure small bark. Curious.

[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by Ross

...But I wonder why it only happens with Masdies from one vendor. ...

well, no clue about that all the masdies I have tried so far, no matter where they came from has gone through the same process... except now Masd. strobellii, which open today the first flowers, and I am extremely happy I think I (finally) did with Masdies... planning to order 3/4 new ones, which I know have similar needs as strobellii, in order to check if the success with thi sone can be extrapolated to other plants...

the wish list is:

Masdevallia Confetti
Masdevallia lilacina
Masdevallia hirtzii
Masdevallia lata

by the way, Masd. strobellii has a great fragrance...

[Ross]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

by the way, Masd. strobellii has a great fragrance...

So does M. striatella (if you like dirty socks smell)