Masdevallia: pot, or mount?

[boytjie]

Hello, All! I just got a Masdevallia floribunda from a mail-order place. It looks like it's been newly mounted, but via a quite ugly method: burlap wrapped around a hacked-off chunk of PVC pipe. Since it hasn't grown into the burlap yet, I was going to pot it in sphagnum/bark seedling mix. However... now I'm thinking maybe it might do better re-mounted on cork? Anyone have thoughts as to whether this little guy would do better on a mount, vs. in a pot?

[whygreenberg]

Hello there, boytjie! That certainly seems to be an odd mounting method. Hopefully some others here will give you their opinions and suggestions. But, I thought I'd just share the story of my Masd. floribunda. Take from it what you will.

I received mine (I think it's the tuerckheimii variety) in February. I thought it would be in a pot when I ordered it, but it came to me mounted on a stick – not sure what kind of wood.

When I got it, I think it had a serious reaction to the change in environment, and over the first week it lost a few leaves. My belief is that he was probably used to being in a much more humid environment than I could provide. At the suggestion of people here on the OB, I resisted the temptation to unmount him.

For awhile I kept the mount in a clay pot in an attempt to raise the humidity locally at least some and provide a bit of cooling. Not sure if I accomplished much doing that except for increasing the chances of black pitting on his leaves. So in April, I took him out of the pot and hung him back up. I increased watering (twice a day, sometimes three if the temps are pushing 85) and moved him to a position where he received a much more direct hit of air from my fan.

Since making those changes, he has responded very well. He has put on four new leaf growths and a lot of new roots. Haven't seen blooms yet, but he is certainly much much happier and healthier.

Anywho. I certainly can't pretend to offer you any suggestions, but perhaps you'll be able to take something away from the trials of my little guy.

Cheers and

[cirillonb]

I got 5 Masd. on e-Bay a couple of months ago. Very health plants delivered in moss in 1 1/2 inch square pots. A few spots. Mentioned this at our club and thought I might mount some. Discouraged from this because of their high moisture requirements. They are happy as they are, throwing up leaves. No spikes yet so I may sneak them into a bit more light. I am tempted to repot one to see what the roots are doing. Would use seeding mix with some sphagnum.
Nick

[Paul]

I think what it will boil down to is what kind of environment you will be able to provide. Way back before using terraria, I tried several mounted orchids from Andy's -- lost them all. (Definitely was NOT Andy's fault. The plants he sent were great and he called me a couple of times when I asked for advice.) It was simply a case that I could not provide the plants with enough moisture and humidity. Now in a terrarium, it is much easier to keep mounted orchids happy.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Paul

Now in a terrarium, it is much easier to keep mounted orchids happy.

My feelings exactly. I had to build a orchidarium just to keep my first mounts alive. Since then I have added a bunch. I don't have Masdies, but I do have a bunch of moisture-loving mounts and baskets, all in their own little niches of the tank.