Masdevallia Herradurae - strange spots on leaves? - Orchid Board

TOMMYMIAMI · #1 10-13-2013, 10:04 PM

Got this one some month ago from Andy's. I am trying to figure out what is happening, I do not have/did not see anything like this on any of my other orchids, thanks God. Leaves have some inside spots, looking yellowish, there are also some small tiny little brown dots, but I do not see any bugs, it is mounted and I am watching for some insects but no luck. What is happening with this baby?

jeremyinsf · #2 10-14-2013, 12:25 AM

I think it's stress. Masdies are prone to behaving this way. I have a plant like this and it did the same until it got re-settled at my house.

TOMMYMIAMI · #3 10-14-2013, 12:34 AM

Many thanks Jeremy, I really hope so. I know Masdies are kinda "primadonnas" and I do have it only for some month now. It is outside and it may be stressed, our Florida summer is not the best for them. I was afraid it may be some bugs or even worse some fungi, but I do not see anything, brown spots were there when I got it from Andy's and the only new strange things are these weird spots.

Bud · #4 10-14-2013, 04:26 PM

put it indoors in the medium shaded light of your window near the AC to keep it cool....put a bowl of water under it or a humidity tray....this doesn't like bright and hot but the humidity in your atmosphere is sustaining it....
those are not bug bites they are cold spots from water droplets and the sun....probably you inherited it like that.
*easy on the fertilizer=maybe twice a month instead of weekly....flush the mount with water the tips of the leaves are browning....either hard water issues or fertilizer salt crystal deposits on the roots....I sometimes save my leftover water in the bottles to give to my Masdies even if NY water is good for my plants there are some chlorines and some other metallic stuff on tap water.

TOMMYMIAMI · #5 10-14-2013, 05:30 PM

Many thanks Bud, the brown tips were on it when I got it, I do fertilize only weakly every 8 days or so. Using only RIO water. There is water dropping from the plants above, so I guess that's the issue. It was never exposed to sun, it is in the shaded part of the balcony.
I really wanted to try this guy outside, but thinking about it, as you wrote, maybe I will move it to my hygrolon cylinder also, so it can do better.

Bud · #6 10-14-2013, 05:48 PM

right, your electric fan on the hygrolon cylinder will also help in air circulation....and instead of every 8 days just make it every 12 days then give fertilizer

TOMMYMIAMI · #7 10-14-2013, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bud

right, your electric fan on the hygrolon cylinder will also help in air circulation....and instead of every 8 days just make it every 12 days then give fertilizer

Done Bud, removed it from the cider slab, thanks god it was easy and pretty much all the roots detached without any harm, and mounted it in the hygrolon cylinder. So, lets see, later this week it will be joined by brother Masdevallia erinacea and few Scaphosepalums:-) So the mini's can finally start to make some serious overnight parties (I did have only 3 mounted there for some 2 months just to see if the environment really works)

TOMMYMIAMI · #8 10-23-2013, 09:42 PM

Just wanted to give short update, it is 10 days since Masdie found her new home inside on hygrolon cylinder, and it seems like she loves it a LOT, strange colored spots are pretty much not visible anymore and it is shooting new leaves left and right, amazing how much it can grow in 10 days:-) Thanks once more for all the tips and hints, moving it inside and mounting on hygrolon was pretty good saving tip!