Masdevallia Celtic Frost - A Little Pale

[gmdiaz]

Hello all,

This is the Masdevallia that went through a bit of stress with temps too cold there for a couple of weeks.

It's doing OK. . .temps are warmer. Right now for instance, it's 86 degrees in the tank and about 90% humidity.

But the new growth is sort of yellow and thin. . .the leaves seem to be stretching towards the light. The leaves are green but a little on the pale side.

According to my light meter. . .I am at about 750-1250 fc.

I am pretty sure I over potted it when I transplated it. . .so maybe that's part of the problem.

I am going light on the fertilizer and use ro water.

Does it need more light do you think? Or less? How can I pull this up to full vigor?

[stonedragonfarms]

Hello... I read your post and think that the yellow growths may be caused by too high of temps; most orchids that would be found (naturally) growing at 86F for extended periods of time would be classed as hot growers. The majority of masdevallias are cool to intermediate growers. I would try to lower the daytime temps in your growing area for this plant, ideally shoot for the mid 60's to low 70's range. The parents of the cross include two cool to intermediate growing species (glandulosa & strobelii) and one cold to cool grower (veitchiana); high humidity is great, so long as there is suitable movement of air. As for light, the cooler that you can grow (and maintain) the higher the light the plants will be able to withstand. It appears that you are growing under lighting conditions suitable for paphs/phals; this will probably yield plants that are a nice uniform deep green, but may not produce blooms; I would shoot for more light (I don't have FC measurements...but would shoot for light similar to that which is used for growth and flowering of phrags...)
One other thing to remember with masdevallias (and a good rule of thumb for all orchids) is to pot relative to the current root mass, not in proportion to the foliage. Plants which become pot bound often bloom better than those that have infinite space to roam. It's hard to gauge the size of the plant from the picture, but I would think that it would be happy in a 2.5" pot or so...
Hope that this is of help,
Adam

[shakkai]

Gwen, I would say that you should increase the light - but if you increase the light, I would take the temps down a bit to minimise stressing the plant. I would probably also increase the fertiliser slightly when you increase the light, as the plant will be capable of utilising more energy.

It doesn't look too over-potted to me, so I wouldn't think it would be enough to cause any serious problems.

One of the flower spikes on my tovarensis has recently started to yellow. I have put it down to too low light and increased both light and fertiliser to see if that will help.

[gmdiaz]

I've been mulling this over. . .

If it were getting too much light it would be yellowing and possibly have a little sun scorch. If it were getting too little light I would expect it to be darker green.

BUT it's reaching up to the light and is spindly. . .no burn marks, so I am thinking it needs more light too.

It's a little weak but it's been stressed, so I am too scared to transplant it into a smaller pot or change it's medium.

I want to be real careful about the changes for it just now, so here's the plan based on both of your excellent suggestions:

Raise it up higher to the light. If it gets more yellow, I know I was wrong. lol

Give it a good soak in MSU fertilizer and a drop or two of Superthrive.

Lower the temps, a good 8 degrees overall.

Reposition the fan to be sure it's getting a good fresh space to breathe.

Will let you know if I see any changes! Many thanks!

[Ross]

Originally Posted by gmdiaz

I've been mulling this over. . .

If it were getting too much light it would be yellowing and possibly have a little sun scorch. If it were getting too little light I would expect it to be darker green.

BUT it's reaching up to the light and is spindly. . .no burn marks, so I am thinking it needs more light too.

It's a little weak but it's been stressed, so I am too scared to transplant it into a smaller pot or change it's medium.

I want to be real careful about the changes for it just now, so here's the plan based on both of your excellent suggestions:

Raise it up higher to the light. If it gets more yellow, I know I was wrong. lol

Give it a good soak in MSU fertilizer and a drop or two of Superthrive.

Lower the temps, a good 8 degrees overall.

Reposition the fan to be sure it's getting a good fresh space to breathe.

Will let you know if I see any changes! Many thanks!

Actually a couple things might be turned around. Generally (well, almost always) light green foliage signifies either proper or higher than normal light, not low light. Dark green foliage signifies extra chlorophyl as an attempt to generate more sugars for the plant to live on. Yours looks proper. The "stretching" you observe could also ne a response to higher levels of Nitrogen - not TOO high, but higher than would have been given in the past. I see this same response (combination of things) in my Epidendrum ellipticum which is twice the height as when I purchased it and stems twice the thickness (not spingly) and spiking like crazy. My fertilizer is as you suggest (regular as per Ray). I'm not all that sure you have anything wrong.

[gmdiaz]

I am sooo happy. . .I've had this orchid now for about a year and a half! And it's blooming for me for the first time.

I'll try to take photos this week so you can see how pretty it is!

SCORE one for the home team! lol

[Bolero]

What do you mean by too cold? I think it could grow down to 35F with not too many problems. Did the temps get below freezing?

Plant looks happy to me and isn't overpotted in my opinion.

[masda]

Pot size is ok, lighter leaves is also ok usually a sign of higher light, won't hurt them use a fertalizer with no or less nitrogen content, cold temps will not hurt them.

[bcub30]

To be honest , I cant see anything wrong at all with the plant! It Looks very healthy. This plant is a vigorous grower for me although I cant say the same for the blooming. LOL.


Scott