masdevallia leaf drop, without signs of rot

[Ross]

Originally Posted by whygreenberg

I know that Masdies can react very negatively to excessive fertilizer or build up of salts in the medium. I usually associate browning of the leaves with this, but perhaps it could also result in leaf drop??

I've not seen this with anything other than heat or dryness, myself. Usually excess salts buildup will produce pleating or distorted leaves (at least that's my experience.) Low humidity or moisture in the pot (underwatering) will cause leaf drop, but from what I've seen, the leaves dropping off are dried and green. Lots of times excess heat will produce weird brown spots before the leaves drop. Best way to grow these is cool as possible (even the warm-tolerant) with plenty of water (not like Phrags, though) and lots of air movement. They dislike stagnant air and will not grow well in terrariums unless there is plenty of air movement. They tend to rot if the medium doesn't dry a bit overnight. I use Paph mix for mine in really small pots (underpotted) to accelerate the nightly drying.