Problems with Masdevallia tovarensis

[masda]

I have just returned from the first Orchid show of this spring,there I saw heaps of Masdevalias all with healthy dark green growths almost shiney to look at, when I asked the owner how he achieved such healthy looking plants he produced a container of fungicide called Foschek made by Zelam.He said he had been useing it for only a month or so and said it was designed to prevent root rot and prevent leaf drop on ornamentals, this included orchids, when it is applied as a spray it also prevents leaf spotting, it also is a plant food with a N.P.K OF0-11-16. having seen the results on his Masdes I left the show and went the local horticulture supply shop and came away with a container of the stuff and if I can get the same results as him I will be over the moon. I also managed to get a few of his Masdevallias to.I don't know if this product is available under this name everywhere but it looks as if it could be good aid in growing orchids. One Masde that I brought from him has several spikes so watch my postings its an amazing red with stripes. Good luck with your problem.

[MsOrchidEnthusiast]

Unfortunately, I have no luck with Masdevalia Tovarensis. I bought 2 plants and each one pretty much lost all its leaves. So, I'm done having this type of Masd.
I am doing well with the other Massies, though(Rosemary/Keiko/Rolfeana).

[Ross]

Anyone know if Foschek is available and legal in US?

[Tindomul]

Originally Posted by MZHMD

Ok. M. tovarensis is from about 2000 m. Generally it is thought to do well in intermediate conditions. It is from a cloud forest environment and as such would be expected to do well with good air movement and high humidity. I have found that these conditions suit [u]my[u] specimen - I have a fan going in my enclosed space 24/7, the fan circulates mist from an ultrasonic fogger. There is constant, mild movement of the leaves of all the plants in the environment. I water every couple of days. M. tovarensis is happy under these conditions in an unglazed slash sided 3# clay pot (which it fills) in a mixture of fine bark, fine treefern, perlite, small grade aerolite and a bit of fine redwood bark. It blooms somewhere in the Thanksgiving/Christmas season. I hope this helps. The bottom line, IMO, is LOTS of air movement, moist air and don't overwater at the roots. As for feeding, I do it when I remember (not often) and then at an eighth to a quarter recommended strength of whatever happens to be in front of the other fertilizers when I lumber by. Unlike most masdevallias, this one seems to like me. I generally do better with dracs.

Thanks for the info. Not only lots of air movement, but lots of humidity so I don't have to water the plant often. That seems to do the trick. Almost like a fog forest succulent.

[WeirdGuySeattle]

I just got one of these myself.

I only have watered this thing maybe 5 times over the 5 weeks I've had this. My method has been to pick it up before deciding whether or not to water. I decided to check out the roots today and repotted cause it is so slow to suck up water, and I think the nursery I bought it from had overwatered.

it's roots only penetrated maybe 2" in to the bark - and the bark was very very dark. The good news is that there is a ton of new root growth coming in, so I think the plant should be fine. I planted in fine bark and a clay pot.

I agree about the succulent observation - the leaves are super fleshy compared to the other Masde's I have.

[euplusia]

Masdevallia tovarensis has done better for me than most of the higher Andean species. It sounds to me that you kept it too much on the wet side, Tindo. My plants were often watered in the summer only once a week, because they stand in another house far away from home . Tovarensis is also less sensitive to higher temperatures than the majority.

[SteveKotarski]

Mine seems to do well in the basement all year round under lots of cfl and T5 lighting. sitting in a metal tray of gravel in clay pot in sphagnum. the metal and clay promote coolness, so maybe that helps. Watering with rainwater helps too. I haven't had much problem with leaf drop on this species under the stated conditions. It will be in bloom soon, just in time for Xmas!

[Tindomul]

I lost this plant a long time ago. Don't even remember what finally did it in.