Work buddy - Masdevallia

[Connie Star]

Originally Posted by Duane McDowell

Sorry, Anisa - I'm going to take some of the credit on this one, too.
That's a hybrid I made!
I was tired of Masdevallias being only for specialized growing conditions - I crossed the two best-performing plants we had (in Phal-growing conditions) to make the cross. The parents are Copper Angel 'Highland' and floribunda.

Are Masdies hard to cross and grow? This sounds fascinating. Also, do you have any masdies that you want to sell?

[Anisa]

@RosieC
I tried S/H on about 20 plants and all of them except this masdie and one cycnoches had to go back to moss/bark/charcoal mixture. I guess i did something right with those two

@Tindomul
The office is heavily airconditioned and dry. Masdie is potted in LECA and stands in a wide bowl in 2/3" deep water. Perhaps evaporation contributes some moisture, i also mist it several times per day on weekdays.

@RJSquirrel
Nah, he not very good at office tasks, but he does excellent job of reminding me that there is more to a life than a "8 to 5 job" Sorry about your burnt orchid, i too get nervous when my co-workers get too interested. Mostly I have to explain what "those balls" are my "plant" is potted in.

@Duane McDowell
OK, fine, you can have some of the credit and thank you for a great job creating masdie that will grow (and bloom!!! and is such a cutie!!!) in office/home environment. : Do you still make new crosses of Masdies? Have you done more crosses like this one?

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by Duane McDowell

Sorry, Anisa - I'm going to take some of the credit on this one, too.
That's a hybrid I made!
I was tired of Masdevallias being only for specialized growing conditions - I crossed the two best-performing plants we had (in Phal-growing conditions) to make the cross. The parents are Copper Angel 'Highland' and floribunda.

Great work Duane, wonder if this one is available in the UK because I would love to have an easy one like this!

[Duane McDowell]

Originally Posted by Connie Star

Are Masdies hard to cross and grow? This sounds fascinating. Also, do you have any masdies that you want to sell?

They're pretty easy to pollinate (thank goodness for bifocals). The pods take anywhere from 30-100 days to mature to the point where they can be harvested for green-pod sowing.

If they are replated frequently enough and given room to grow, they can be grown to almost blooming size in flasks. The transition from flask to outside world can be a little tricky - they really need constant high humidity and frequent watering for the first few weeks. After that, they're pretty easy.

I made a sibling cross of Sunset Jaguar several months ago. I got a huge pod which I finally harvested about six weeks ago. It was completely empty. Sometimes happens. I haven't worked in the business for fourteen years, but I was very familiar with the feeling of excitement followed by disappointment associated with a cross that doesn't take.

[Duane McDowell]

Originally Posted by Connie Star

Are Masdies hard to cross and grow? This sounds fascinating. Also, do you have any masdies that you want to sell?

There's a grower who sells Masd. Hampshire Prolific on ebay regularly. Looks like nice big divisions, too! Also, there's frequently Masd. Maui Lollipop (Angel Frost x mendozae). A really cute orange hybrid - should be very floriferous and easy to grow.

Here are a few that I think are "Friendly" for most home growers:
Masd. infracta
Masd. bicolor
Masd. kuhnorium (smells like green apples!)
Masd. floribunda
Masd. minuta (tiny - I think it's been moved out of Masdevallia by the taxonomists)
Masd. Hampshire Prolific
Masd. rolfeana

Here's some that I would think of as being slightly more challenging - still not a problem for most home growers:
Masd. Copper Angel
Masd. Angel Frost
Masd. Sunset Jaguar (These are real performers)
Masd. Red Wing

This is by no means a comprehensive list. It's a huge genus and there are massive numbers of hybrids. I've just started growing again after many years away, so my info is not entirely up to date, either! I would think of these as a "point of departure."

For a first plant, I would make sure that you get a nice big division - I would say 10 growths minimum. That gives you the opportunity to make big mistakes without losing the plant entirely...

And, when in doubt, buy species - they never go out of style - they tend to keep their value over time. If you decide not to grow a plant, someone will usually want it! When buying hybrid Masdevallias, a division of a known plant can generally be gotten for a relatively reasonable price - again, it's apt to hold its value better than an unknown seedling would.

[Duane McDowell]

Originally Posted by Anisa

@RosieC
I tried S/H on about 20 plants and all of them except this masdie and one cycnoches had to go back to moss/bark/charcoal mixture. I guess i did something right with those two

@Tindomul
The office is heavily airconditioned and dry. Masdie is potted in LECA and stands in a wide bowl in 2/3" deep water. Perhaps evaporation contributes some moisture, i also mist it several times per day on weekdays.

@RJSquirrel
Nah, he not very good at office tasks, but he does excellent job of reminding me that there is more to a life than a "8 to 5 job" Sorry about your burnt orchid, i too get nervous when my co-workers get too interested. Mostly I have to explain what "those balls" are my "plant" is potted in.

@Duane McDowell
OK, fine, you can have some of the credit and thank you for a great job creating masdie that will grow (and bloom!!! and is such a cutie!!!) in office/home environment. : Do you still make new crosses of Masdies? Have you done more crosses like this one?

I've only made one Masdevallia cross successfully. I made one a few months back, but didn't get any viable seed. I sowed it anyway, but there's not even a hint of germination yet. I put together a little list of a few that I found easy to grow in another post on this thread...

I'm a little embarrassed to have taken any credit for how lovely your plant is. When I read the post I came off as being pretty full of myself. While I certainly am all of that, it's never attractive to show it in public. I meant no offense, and I for sure didn't mean to take anything away from your accomplishment!

[Anisa]

Originally Posted by Duane McDowell

I've only made one Masdevallia cross successfully. I made one a few months back, but didn't get any viable seed. I sowed it anyway, but there's not even a hint of germination yet. I put together a little list of a few that I found easy to grow in another post on this thread...

I'm a little embarrassed to have taken any credit for how lovely your plant is. When I read the post I came off as being pretty full of myself. While I certainly am all of that, it's never attractive to show it in public. I meant no offense, and I for sure didn't mean to take anything away from your accomplishment!

No offense taken. I took it as a little teasing Anyways, without you there wouldn't be a masdie so cute and generous like this one.
Thank you for the list of "easier" growing/blooming Masdevallias. It certainly looks like plenty to start with. Masd. kuhnorium - i curious about this one because green apple fragrance, but couldnt find picture on web. Did i spell it wrong?

[Call_Me_Bob]

Originally Posted by Anisa

No offense taken. I took it as a little teasing Anyways, without you there wouldn't be a masdie so cute and generous like this one.
Thank you for the list of "easier" growing/blooming Masdevallias. It certainly looks like plenty to start with. Masd. kuhnorium - i curious about this one because green apple fragrance, but couldnt find picture on web. Did i spell it wrong?

i couldnt find that one either.

yours is so cute! i want one, but im not allowed to buy anymore orchids, until october....

duane- that is so cool! i want to get one, just to say ive talked to the hybridizer! haha

[Duane McDowell]

I'm sure I spelled it wrong. It's Masdevallia kuhniorum. Here's a link to a photo:
IOSPE PHOTOS
Here are a few sources:
Catalog Colombian Orchid Imports
Untitled Document
I'd bet that J and L would be able to come up with a piece, too. You can email Cordelia at: jlorchid@snet.net.
Good luck!

[Anisa]

Originally Posted by Duane McDowell

I'm sure I spelled it wrong. It's Masdevallia kuhniorum. Here's a link to a photo:
IOSPE PHOTOS
Here are a few sources:
Catalog Colombian Orchid Imports
Untitled Document
I'd bet that J and L would be able to come up with a piece, too. You can email Cordelia at: jlorchid@snet.net.
Good luck!

Masdevallia kuhniorum = cuteness! I am going to check with J&L and see what they have from your list.