How to rescue Masdevallia venus

[The Peloric Orchid]

I have a Masdevallia venus that's started declining in health since my move. It's normal for me to pluck dead leaves as they yellow at the base. However, it seems like it will go bald at the rate the leaves are yellowing at the stem and getting loose.

Some observations:

• The off-green parts are yellower in real life than I could capture. New growth might be rotting?
• Other leaf discoloration is present but within "normal" parameters
• I feel like leaves used to be plumper and no longer plump with water? Not sure if accurate
• Potted in LFS which is degraded, but it's been like this for many many months. Oops

Things I'm thinking of doing:

• Dividing the plant to remove the leafless portion
• Repotting into same size or smaller pot with fresh LFS
• Mounting on kool log

Any thoughts?

Flickr
Flickr
Flickr

Edit: inserting the images didn't insert the images

[Ray]

I don’t grow masdevallias any longer, but leaf tip die-back is often associated with root issues, whether that need suffocation or excessive minerals.

Hard to say just from photos, but that sphagnum looks pretty old and compact.

I would not divide it, as more growths means more resilience.

I suggest you get a bottle of Inocucor Garden Solution (Arbico Organics carries it), unpot the plant and give it a decent soak (total immersion) for an hour or so in a 2 oz/gal dispersion, then repot it in fresh medium, watering it in with that same solution. For the next week or so, mist it with the solution a couple of times a day.

[estación seca]

What are your growing conditions?

[Roberta]

Masdevallias are definitely picky about water. If they're not getting RO or something close to it, they often rebel by dying. The other factor that they tend to be picky about is temperature. They'll tolerate warm days if they can cool off at night. I have found that clay pots (with sphagnum) can help by providing evaporative cooling at the roots. Were either of these changes a factor when you moved?

[The Peloric Orchid]

Originally Posted by Ray

I suggest you get a bottle of Inocucor Garden Solution (Arbico Organics carries it), unpot the plant and give it a decent soak (total immersion) for an hour or so in a 2 oz/gal dispersion, then repot it in fresh medium, watering it in with that same solution. For the next week or so, mist it with the solution a couple of times a day.

I'm out of Inocucor, but I'm assuming I can substitute Quantum?

Originally Posted by estación seca

What are your growing conditions?

So far this summer, the growing area ranges from 68-79 F. Humidity is normally > 40 and < 60, but with the rain today the RH peaked at 76.

Originally Posted by Roberta

Masdevallias are definitely picky about water. If they're not getting RO or something close to it, they often rebel by dying. The other factor that they tend to be picky about is temperature. They'll tolerate warm days if they can cool off at night. I have found that clay pots (with sphagnum) can help by providing evaporative cooling at the roots. Were either of these changes a factor when you moved?

They were happy with my PA tap water, so I don't think my WA tap is the issue. I think the change was that my bottom shelf orchids from the old setup had pots resting on the wire shelf with 1020 nursery trays below. I had issues with my sphagnum acting like a sieve when it got to dry, so I figured my orchids wouldn't mind resting directly in their trays to help the sphag reabsorb some moisture as I get my/their new home setup. I'll probably repot the Masdevallia anyway, but also either get eggcrate to line my 1020 trays or give each plant more breathing my giving them all their own plastic saucers which I can empty shortly after watering.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by The Peloric Orchid

I'm out of Inocucor, but I'm assuming I can substitute Quantum?

Of course.

Kelpak might not hurt either, to 'beef up' that plany.

[spes1959@gmail.com]

Hi Ray can you tell me il I can find QUANTUM TOTAL in Europe?