Masdevallia striatella - Orchid Board

boytjie · #1 11-19-2009, 11:19 PM

A pretty happy little Masdevallia. I got this one winter at Parkside's annual sale, and was a bit worried that it might not be as warmth-tolerant as my other Masdies. No need for concern: it took off like a shot over the summer, and burst into bloom this month. Nearly three dozen spikes, more on the way. It's growing in a three-inch slotted plastic pot in straight sphagnum, and gets watered just as the moss is starting to dry out.

Thanks for looking!

playtime8978 · #2 11-20-2009, 07:02 AM

Absolutely gorgeous. My Masdies are far from happy right now, the only one I thought was thriving I moved yesterday and what seemed like healthy leaves started dropping off! I will sit and admire yours until I can work out what on earth to do with mine LOL

boytjie · #3 11-20-2009, 09:15 AM

Ugh, sorry to hear about your problems with this genus.

Masdies can be kinda touchy, even the supposedly "intermediate" growers. After some premature deaths I finally settled on three species which do well for me, and have stuck with them: this one, M. herradurae and M. floribunda, plus a couple of truly warmth-tolerant hybrids. Good luck!

Ross · #4 11-20-2009, 09:39 AM

My striatella is a blooming fool right now. The cool summer did the trick. I have about 20 Masdies now - mostly warm "tolerant" but all of them pretty well here for me as our summers are far from warm

Thanks for sharing the pics of yours Stephen.

boytjie · #5 11-20-2009, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ross

My striatella is a blooming fool right now. The cool summer did the trick. I have about 20 Masdies now - mostly warm "tolerant" but all of them pretty well here for me as our summers are far from warm

Thanks for sharing the pics of yours Stephen.

Ross, do the blooms on yours hang around the bottom of the pot, beneath or inside the leaves? When I bought this last year, that's what they were doing. This time around, the stems seem much stronger, and most of the blooms are held above the plant. Interesting.

Ross · #6 11-20-2009, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boytjie

Ross, do the blooms on yours hang around the bottom of the pot, beneath or inside the leaves? When I bought this last year, that's what they were doing. This time around, the stems seem much stronger, and most of the blooms are held above the plant. Interesting.

Stephen, most of the blooms sit just at the top of the leaf mass. Very few are down inside, but they sometimes do. I'd say most of the blooms aren't as high as on your plant. Wish I could run out and snap a pic and post it, but I'm sitting here off my foot after the operation. It's just killing me to not be able to post pics!

Here's mine year before last when I first got it

It's much larger now.

Grandma M · #7 11-20-2009, 10:00 AM

I love it. It's hard to believe that all this beauty is contained in a 3" pot.

My Masd are doing well

at this time but I guess next summer will tell the tale. They will go into my basement then. These are rather new to me, about 5-6 months.

Marilyn

boytjie · #8 11-20-2009, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ross

Wish I could run out and snap a pic and post it, but I'm sitting here off my foot after the operation. It's just killing me to not be able to post pics!

Ouch, sorry to hear that. Been there -- three ankle surgeries, three summers in a row -- and the impatience is the worst part. Sending you good vibes for speedy healing.

Tindomul · #9 02-08-2010, 01:23 AM

A specimen plant. Congratulations!