Masd. Highland Fling, finally a bloom!

[silken]

Thanks Camille! Yes, surgery on every successful bloom so far. But since the first bud opened, it has been in the house so I can enjoy it and these have developed there where it is not as warm and bright during the day. My poor Masdies do have to suffer more heat and low humidity in summer than they would like, but should have good conditions in winter as a trade off. And evenings in the greenhouse are reasonably cool even in summer. Soon I will have a more humid and cool summer area for a few I think. We are renovating in the greenhouse! These last two blooms are a lot more yellow and nicer texture than my first one. The plant itself is the picture of health with robust growth in leaves and roots

[Tindomul]

Real pretty. Once you get the flowers to open on their own you should see some improvement on form. The flower sheath is causing some atrophy in the growth process. I agree that higher constant humidity may be the remedy. Though I wonder how much of a role nutrition plays into this.

[silken]

Originally Posted by Tindomul

Real pretty. Once you get the flowers to open on their own you should see some improvement on form. The flower sheath is causing some atrophy in the growth process. I agree that higher constant humidity may be the remedy. Though I wonder how much of a role nutrition plays into this.

Thanks! I think it's the humidity thing. This gets the same nutrients (MSU, rainwater and some seaweed) as all the other orchids. I have had several other Masdies bloom no problem. The plant itself is the picture of health, very robust and very good roots!

[Bud]

I like orange flowers...I am evious that even if you have a hard time opening the blooms of your Masdy...at least you have blooms
I have yet to see a single bloom from any of my Masdies...its been 4 years...hopefully this season I will have blooms

[silken]

That's strange Bud because you bloom lots of chids! Do you think they need to be cooler than you can give? Mine don't get very cool from spring thru fall tho. I do keep mine in moss and pretty moist at all times. even this one that has trouble opening bloom puts out spikes non stop for the last 9 months or more.

My friend grew her Masd. Machu Picchu on her kitchen windowsill as well as a Masd. princeps which both bloomed. I have heard princeps is a very easy bloomer. Maybe give that one a try!

[Tindomul]

Originally Posted by Bud

I like orange flowers...I am evious that even if you have a hard time opening the blooms of your Masdy...at least you have blooms
I have yet to see a single bloom from any of my Masdies...its been 4 years...hopefully this season I will have blooms

Maybe you want to increase the light. And ofcourse the increasing the light means you have to relearn how often to water and how to keep up the proper humidity. My Masides were blooming fools when they were getting 4-6 hours of direct winter time sunlight here in NYC, through a glass window.

[Tindomul]

Originally Posted by silken

That's strange Bud because you bloom lots of chids! Do you think they need to be cooler than you can give? Mine don't get very cool from spring thru fall tho. I do keep mine in moss and pretty moist at all times. even this one that has trouble opening bloom puts out spikes non stop for the last 9 months or more.

My friend grew her Masd. Machu Picchu on her kitchen windowsill as well as a Masd. princeps which both bloomed. I have heard princeps is a very easy bloomer. Maybe give that one a try!

I don;t know what I have been doing wrong with my M. princeps, I have had it for 5 years and no blooms. The plant istself has stayed small. Finally I moved it into one of terrariums and I am seeing some accelerated growth, hoping for a bloom finally. All my other Masdies that were given the same treatment bloomed, but not my M. princeps or reginae.