Masdevallia amabilis and lilacina

[No-Pro-mwa]

What do you all think of these 2 orchids. I am thinking Rosie you have the amabilis and Ron you have the lilacina. I can't remember who else may have them. I have been looking them up on here. I think Ron say's the lilacina is easy to grow.

I'm looking at both of these from Seattle Orchids and was wondering any of you that might know if these would be a good starter Masdevallia's to start with. My one concern is I am going to have to get the humidity up. I think I have the cooler temps ok.

There is only one lilicina so I will probably miss that one.

[ron-in-norcal]

Myself, I find they're generally pretty easy to grow, though they will burn out here with direct sunlight, except perhaps very early in the morning only. I grow mine outdoors. They are nicely resistant to snails/slugs, too.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Which one do you have? I also think the other Ron has the Mas lilacina, at least he did have as I was doing a search on here about them.

I want to grow them in a north east window and it only gets very early morning sun in the summer. It gets low 50's and maybe highs 69 F in the day. Won't be to bad in the summer either as I don't do well when it gets over 75 so we have a swamp cooler.

It's over my kitchen sink and I do think it is to cold for most orchids in the winter. However my Phal Mannii has always been in there and has always bloomed for me every year. But I do take it out for the night when it is as cold as we are having right now.

I just want some orchids that can grow in there and I love Masdevallia's.

[ron-in-norcal]

Most of the Colombian and similar cool-growing Masdevallias would love those conditions. I find they have no problem going down into the 30s, and last year when we had a lot of that plus tons of rain, they were completely unbothered.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Thanks so much Ron I really want to give these a try, they are so cool, I think I am in love with them

[Polarizeme]

I have lilacina and found it to be a pretty easy to grow Masd. It really likes the cooler temps and is throwing off new growth like crazy. The greenhouse got down to 37 a few times and the plant didn't seem to miss a beat. It should bloom pretty nicely this time.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Originally Posted by Polarizeme

I have lilacina and found it to be a pretty easy to grow Masd. It really likes the cooler temps and is throwing off new growth like crazy. The greenhouse got down to 37 a few times and the plant didn't seem to miss a beat. It should bloom pretty nicely this time.

Thanks I am hoping to order it today or tomorrow. I am waiting because they are suppose to be having a special. I did order a ken Dole as it was already on sale and I also ordered a phrag that was on sale and I was worried it would be gone. Now I am just trying to figure out which others to get. I called them and found out that the amabilis is full sun and I'm not sure I can do that one.

I'm wondering if I need to stay with more range or not. I really want the ignea but it say's it's a cool one. My window is pretty cool but is it enough? It's 59 F right now.

When will your lilicina bloom? Post a picture of it when it does will you please?