Masdevallia trouble? - Orchid Board

greenpassion · #1 02-09-2012, 08:09 PM

I have 2 masdies that I grow in S/H. They've been in this for several months now, although I purchased them in the usual potting medium, from a reputable nursery. They are under lighting with my other orchids, phals and oncidiums, on a heat mat with a fan for circulation, and a humidifier. All my other orchids are doing great. New root growth, spikes, etc. But my masdies are a puzzle. :_One is continously losing leaves, although it also constantly sends up new growth. The other is just there. No new growth, but it looks nice and green, never losing a leaf, but never growing any either.

As I said, the light is good enough to make all the other plants really happy-but what is going on with my masdies?

Paul Mc · #2 02-09-2012, 08:13 PM

Naught be too much heat as most masdie's are cool to intermediate temperature growers. You should find out exactly what kinds you have, and parentage if they are hybrids. Do your research into culture and you'll have your answer, or post here and I'm sure someone will be able to tell you.

greenpassion · #3 02-09-2012, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Mc

Naught be too much heat as most masdie's are cool to intermediate temperature growers. You should find out exactly what kinds you have, and parentage if they are hybrids. Do your research into culture and you'll have your answer, or post here and I'm sure someone will be able to tell you.

Thanks Paul. Actually, the one that is having problems is the one that was not on the heat mat. I had a 3ft mat set out on a 4ft glass shelf, and until recently this paticular masdie was the one not able to fit on it. I bought a 4ft matt, and they both have been on it for a few days. Strange that the one that's been on the matt is the one doing better. I remember reading that masides prefer cool temps.

Paul Mc · #4 02-09-2012, 09:03 PM

Hummmm..... Well, I'm new to masdies as well, so I'd let someone else with more authority help. But I'm curious what your humidity level is and what they are packed in. Also curious what the ph of your water is. Do you fertilize?

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #5 02-09-2012, 10:28 PM

What are the names of the Masdevallias?

Not all of them are cool growing as you've just witnessed.

Paul Mc · #6 02-09-2012, 10:38 PM

True, there are many types and each have their own requirements.

greenpassion · #7 02-10-2012, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

What are the names of the Masdevallias?

Not all of them are cool growing as you've just witnessed.

One of them is Masdevallia "Tibbles".

---------- Post added at 09:18 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:12 AM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

What are the names of the Masdevallias?

Not all of them are cool growing as you've just witnessed.

Just found the names in my reciept folder!
"Tribbles" and "Maui-Lollipop" hybrid.

silken · #8 02-10-2012, 11:47 AM

I myself would never put my Masdies with my Oncidiums or Phals. They all have fairly different growing requirements! Oncidiums usually require fairly high light and warm to cool conditions depending on what's in their breeding. Phals are fairly low light and warm growers. Masdies are cool growers and would not do well in Oncidium light but for me, take more light than a Phal. So It's likely their location that is causing them to do poorly. You should check out Masdevallia culture (AOS site has good info) and then go from there. They should also have good moving air.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #9 02-10-2012, 05:32 PM

I'll bet the one that's doing well for you on the heat pad is probably Masdevallia Tribbles, am I correct?

Masdevallia Tribbles is a primary cross, and it's lineage can be seen as so:

Masdevallia Tribbles = Masdevallia tonduzii x Masdevallia strobelii

Masdevallia Tribbles can grow intermediate - warm as a result of this cross.

Masdevallia Maui Lollipop is a complex hybrid that grows cool - intermediate.

Masdevallia Maui Lollipop = Masdevallia Angel Frost x Masdevallia mendozae

Masdevallia mendozae itself comes from the high Andes at an elevation range of 1,800 m - 2,300 m. At this elevation range, it gets no warmer than 80 F to 85 F.

As for Masdevallia Angel Frost, it is a complex hybrid. I had a difficult time finding out the lineage, but I have reason to believe it consists of cool - intermediate growers as well.

You may also want to consider using the smallest size pots that you can find that would barely fit the roots. As with many other popularly grown orchids, it is troublesome to grow them in pots that are much larger than the root stock. While Masdevallias can produce quite a bit of roots, it is still a fairly small mass of them.

In general, Masdevallias should be grown in bright shade or on the lower spectrum of moderately bright indirect light.

And yes, with Pleurothallids, you might want to dilute your fertilizer concentration even further compared to the rest of your other orchids. Quarter strength or one-third strength is good enough.

camille1585 · #10 02-10-2012, 09:21 PM

Pot size doesn't matter at all in S/H, so that's probably not the problem.

As suggested, I would move it someplace else. I got one in late fall and although it's a temp tolerant type, it really didn't like growing under the lights with the other orchids, and they it went without water while I was on vacation, which is hated even more. I moved it to a cool windowsill, and the difference is amazing, it' very happy now!