Fear of Fertilizing Masdies

[GardenTheater]

Originally Posted by jeremyinsf

I'm not an expert either, but I've learned a fair bit this year about Masdevallia's. Brown tips are usually stress related. And some types are much, much more prone to it than others.

How root-bound is this plant, and what is it planted in?

If you are giving it good, clean water - I don't think water is the issue. But there could be several other issues.

Have you pulled the plant and looked at the condition of the roots?

---------- Post added at 08:24 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:20 AM ----------



Nice to meet another local Masdie grower! I'd possibly be interested in trading divisions sometime, if you are. Yes, love our water. 18 TDS last time I checked. What do you do with your plants on the really cold nights?

Nice to meet you too and thanks for the advice. I'm going to Orchids in the Park today. I might pick-up another Masdie lol. Are you going?

[jeremyinsf]

Originally Posted by GardenTheater

Nice to meet you too and thanks for the advice. I'm going to Orchids in the Park today. I might pick-up another Masdie lol. Are you going?

Yes. On my way in a few minutes! You will probably see Golden Gate Orchids - Tom, the owner will be there - he is considered to be one of the best Masdevallia orchid growers in the world. He's retiring this year, so this may be your last chance to get a plant from him. About half of my overall collection came from him, including about 30 Masdevallia's. You can tell him I suggested to you if you want, he knows me well! If you see one called Redshine 'Shelia', grab it.

[RosieC]

I water with rain water with MSU (or the European equivalent) at roughly half gram per liter. To be honest I don't measure accurately after working out roughly how much that was I just put roughly that amount in each time, probably varies.

I use this between 1 and 2 times a week in the summer with plain rain water in between. In spring and autumn and even more so in winter they need less water, so I probably fertilize about every other watering.

Always rain water though, unless I've completely run out, but as I get low on rain water I save it for the Masdies and Phrags so they are the last to get switched to tap water and it's a very last resort. They cope with occasional tap water but I avoid using it if possible.

---------- Post added at 06:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:10 PM ----------

I get brown tips if they are too warm. I grow with moss in clay pots keeping it always damp. This has a cooling evaporative effect (though they get over warm if allowed to fully dry). I get massive root growth on masdies so they seem to like it.

[GardenTheater]

j

Originally Posted by RosieC

I water with rain water with MSU (or the European equivalent) at roughly half gram per liter. To be honest I don't measure accurately after working out roughly how much that was I just put roughly that amount in each time, probably varies.

I use this between 1 and 2 times a week in the summer with plain rain water in between. In spring and autumn and even more so in winter they need less water, so I probably fertilize about every other watering.

Always rain water though, unless I've completely run out, but as I get low on rain water I save it for the Masdies and Phrags so they are the last to get switched to tap water and it's a very last resort. They cope with occasional tap water but I avoid using it if possible.

---------- Post added at 06:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:10 PM ----------

I get brown tips if they are too warm. I grow with moss in clay pots keeping it always damp. This has a cooling evaporative effect (though they get over warm if allowed to fully dry). I get massive root growth on masdies so they seem to like it.

Thanks Rosie! They don't have brown tips. Now, I know they're not too hot...that was a big concern I had. I'll start fertilizing more often too. One bud blasted, but one is still there. Fingers crossed.

---------- Post added at 05:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:07 AM ----------

Originally Posted by jeremyinsf

Yes. On my way in a few minutes! You will probably see Golden Gate Orchids - Tom, the owner will be there - he is considered to be one of the best Masdevallia orchid growers in the world. He's retiring this year, so this may be your last chance to get a plant from him. About half of my overall collection came from him, including about 30 Masdevallia's. You can tell him I suggested to you if you want, he knows me well! If you see one called Redshine 'Shelia', grab it.

Already back from orchids in the park and just seeing your post now. I only have 4 Masdies. One of those has bloomed so far under my care. I'm trying to get the culture right for more blooming before I purchase another. I would be tempted by Redshine 'Sheila' though.

To answer your earlier question about freezes, last year I only had a few orchids outside and could shelter them in the garage when we had frost. This year I have a lot more orchids outdoors. I have a frost blanket, crop covers and popup greenhouse plus some sources of heat. I'm ready for what may come.

My yard is landscaped with low water plants and setup for entertaining. There's a koi pond in the best spot for a green house and I like koi too. Some orchids like cattleyas look pretty ugly when not in bloom and I try to hide them among the landscaping. The outdoor orchids are all watered by a drip irrigation system that's on a timer. It does a great job keeping the Masdies moist and let's the cattleyas dry.

[jeremyinsf]

What are they potted in? Like what's the media and what's the container? I use clay pots for mine - the Italian ones that are porous, you can get them at many small garden stores. They seem to thrive in NZ Sphag moss, but I have a few in seedling Orchiata too. If you aren't getting blooms, maybe it's time to fertilize! Hope you had fun at the show. Get anything?

[GardenTheater]

Originally Posted by jeremyinsf

What are they potted in? Like what's the media and what's the container? I use clay pots for mine - the Italian ones that are porous, you can get them at many small garden stores. They seem to thrive in NZ Sphag moss, but I have a few in seedling Orchiata too. If you aren't getting blooms, maybe it's time to fertilize! Hope you had fun at the show. Get anything?

Thanks for asking about the Masdies. They're currently in what the media the growers were using and plastic pots. I purchased two of the when I visited two different greenhouses and 2 online from J&L. I use NZ Sphagnum moss for my phals and plan to repot the Masdies into it. When is a good time to repot? Do the Italian clay pots always say made in Italy on the bottom or how can you tell? Will the other clay pots work too? I bought 7 orchids at the show and will soon post photos. How about you? Did you buy anything? It was nice to have a chance to talk to the growers.

[jeremyinsf]

Originally Posted by GardenTheater

Thanks for asking about the Masdies. They're currently in what the media the growers were using and plastic pots. I purchased two of the when I visited two different greenhouses and 2 online from J&L. I use NZ Sphagnum moss for my phals and plan to repot the Masdies into it. When is a good time to repot? Do the Italian clay pots always say made in Italy on the bottom or how can you tell? Will the other clay pots work too? I bought 7 orchids at the show and will soon post photos. How about you? Did you buy anything? It was nice to have a chance to talk to the growers.

I personally think anytime is good to repot Masdies. Being in fresh media and allowing them to thrive is more important than any 'season' - they grow differently than some other orchids where that is more important.

The key to the clay pots is that they should be the porous kind. i.e. "untreated". The treated ones tend to have a lighter, bleached look to them. You don't have to get ones made in Italy, of course. These pots aren't expensive... the 4" ones I get are $.99 here in SF. Two pictures here show the pots I'm talking about. I've found that some are 'stamped' and some are not.

Here is what I got at the show:
Phrag pearcei
Phrag hirtzii
Phrag Jason Fisher
Phrag richteri 'Green Grant' x lindleyanum 'Mile High'
Paph glaucophyllum
Paph gratrixianum
Bulb putidum

And here is a post about the Jason:
Phrag Jason Fischer

This is my first Bulb - thought I'd give one a try.

Looking forward to seeing your photos! Also keep us updated on the repotting and stuff please!

[plantaholic]

Jelly Belly has become much happier outside this early fall. Its getting river water through irrigation and rain water. Leaves look immensely better and looks healthier all over. I think I have some melted snow water from last year and will try to save some of the rain water we get in the fall. Not too easy in the desert.

[GardenTheater]

Originally Posted by jeremyinsf

Here is what I got at the show:
Phrag pearcei
Phrag hirtzii
Phrag Jason Fisher
Phrag richteri 'Green Grant' x lindleyanum 'Mile High'
Paph glaucophyllum
Paph gratrixianum
Bulb putidum

And here is a post about the Jason:
Phrag Jason Fischer

This is my first Bulb - thought I'd give one a try.

Looking forward to seeing your photos! Also keep us updated on the repotting and stuff please!

Thanks for the repotting tips. Do you even repot them in bud? I'm thinking the media on the veitchiana is so old, it might be the problem...now that I know it's not heat. Nice haul from orchids in the park. I've seen the Jason Fischer and paid attention to it because he helped me pick out LED lights. It a great looking phrag. Good luck with bulbo.

If you saw a little old lady walking around GGPark with a big box of orchids on her shoulder...that was me. I parked about a half mile away. You were smart to bring a helper. Some nice young man in the park even offered to carry them, but I didn't have the heart to ask him to do the mile round trip.

[jeremyinsf]

Originally Posted by GardenTheater

Thanks for the repotting tips. Do you even repot them in bud? I'm thinking the media on the veitchiana is so old, it might be the problem...now that I know it's not heat. Nice haul from orchids in the park. I've seen the Jason Fischer and paid attention to it because he helped me pick out LED lights. It a great looking phrag. Good luck with bulbo.

If you saw a little old lady walking around GGPark with a big box of orchids on her shoulder...that was me. I parked about a half mile away. You were smart to bring a helper. Some nice young man in the park even offered to carry them, but I didn't have the heart to ask him to do the mile round trip.

I have... I have Masd. Pinocchio (reblooms from the same spike) and a couple Masd. princeps (sequential blooms from the same spike) and all got re-potted in the last couple months with flowers on them. I find as long as you are using sphagnum moss, they don't seem to notice the difference except in increased happiness. I don't have a species veitchiana (only Huayna Picchu, a hybrid of it) so I don't know how it might react.

I did not see you yesterday, but I'm glad you made it! I would have helped - maybe next time.