Masdevallia Maui Gold 'Tiko'

[Bud]

This hybrid is a cross between Masdevallia Copper Angel and Masdevallia rex. The flowers are yellow to yellow-orange, and they are just delightful to behold. They told me that once these orchid blooms; it should bloom again at almost any time, and likely within 6 or 8 months or several times a year. The flowers can be as much as 4 inches high, and mature plants can have literally dozens of flowers on multiple spikes. Observe that the flowers have those long thin segments (caudae) extending from the ends of the sepals that are typical of Masdevallias. These small orchids produce striking bright flowers in triangular shape. Multiple spikes are common in mature plants.
I never thought I would have my Masdies bloom….they were on constant 80F last year so last September I decided to put them on 50F far from the heater yet on a bright indirect light on the south facing window.
These fast-growing, compact plants are perfect for windowsill growers like me and those with limited space. I was lucky to have a specimen clump that is fast becoming pot bound.
I keep this orchid humid and moist and I use the glass method of ‘RJ Squirrel’ since my apartment is exceptionally dry this winter. I keep them indoors in the air conditioning over the hot New York summers.
I feed it weekly weakly fertilizer with Algoflash alternated with seaweed mix.
Masdies are native to the cloud forests of the Andes.