Masdevallias in flower (plus one passenger)

[ezil]

Maybe I should just get rid of my catts. and switch to the pleurothallid alliance. Such beautiful plants!

[Tindomul]

Bolero, you have the magic touch with Masdies!!! OMG, spectacular show. I think I would pay to see them in person.
The purple shield is very nice.

I had the same problem photographing my Machu Picchu when it flowered last year. Colours don't show up as nice.

THis year my Masdie collection is dieing, not flowering, and some are under scale attack. I almost just want to give up on them all.

[greenbean]

Beautiful! I can't believe that Magic Dragon! So amazing! And I love spotted Masdies like that Myra!

I've grown Strobilanthes (Persian shield) before, but as a summer annual or a houseplant. Never worked out well indoors (not enough light, leaf color fades) and it gets too cold where I live in winter. You could probably plant yours in the ground and it would do just fine. They can take a light frost. One nurseryman told me it's hardy to 20F (-7C), but I don't think it's quite that hardy. Maybe 25F (-4C) minimum.

It's posts like this one that send me off searching for any Masdie I can get my hands on...until I remember that I have no idea where I'll be in a few months and can't make any new purchases of sensitive plants like Masdies.

[silken]

WOW You sure have some gorgeous masdies. We buy that purple shield here as a bedding plant in spring. It is very nice.

[Bolero]

Yeah sorry it's a Persian Shield. It's lovely though and I think I can grow it year round in the ground here........in fact I plan to give it a try and will get a few more.

They can get 5 feet high and 3 feet wide which is a great size plant for what I need anyway.

[silken]

Originally Posted by Bolero

Yeah sorry it's a Persian Shield. It's lovely though and I think I can grow it year round in the ground here........in fact I plan to give it a try and will get a few more.

They can get 5 feet high and 3 feet wide which is a great size plant for what I need anyway.

I forgot it is Persian shield as well! Ours never get that big as they only grow in our summers and can't survive winter here.

[Bolero]

Originally Posted by silken

I forgot it is Persian shield as well! Ours never get that big as they only grow in our summers and can't survive winter here.

Ok, well when mine reaches the lofty 5 feet high I will send you a photo......lol

[greenbean]

So lucky! I wish I could grow Persian shield outdoors all year!

And about the name, I wouldn't be surprised if it was also called purple shield, given the leaf color.

[TimetoFindMe]

Oh wowwwww!! So many gorgeous flowers. Great job with your plants, they all look so happy

[Paul]

Originally Posted by greenbean

I've grown Strobilanthes (Persian shield) before, but as a summer annual or a houseplant. Never worked out well indoors (not enough light, leaf color fades) and it gets too cold where I live in winter.

Evan, if you wish to, you can overwinter them indoors. I've overwintered mine for three years now. (They aren't always available in my area, & I do dislike paying again for a plant that I can overwinter.)

Now I won't lie to you -- mine quickly goes into a downward spiral once it has to live inside. The dim winter days and the horrible lack of humidity (I'm lucky if I can get the humidity up to 33% WITH a humidifier running 24/7) once the furnace kicks in, does a number on the plant in no time.

Once the plant loses all it's leaves -- and it will -- give it just enough water to prevent the soil from getting parched. So basically just sips here and there. Don't cut the stem. In the spring, as temps warm up, increase the water a bit and get it outside during the day as soon as temps make it realistic to do so. If the stem has not completely died off, the plant will send out new shoots from the 'stick'. If the stem has died off, new shoots will arise from the stem/root junction at the base of the stem.