Question About Masdevallia Flowering - Orchid Board

Subrosa · #1 10-02-2015, 08:55 AM

So it looks like the recent spell of cool weather agrees with my Masdevallia, as they have noticeably perked up, even with a recent transition to s/h. In fact my Cheryl Shohan 'Red Hot Mama' has perked up to the point of spiking! My question is about the general speed of the process of spiking and flowering with Masdevallia. Do they tend to drag things out like say, Aerangis citrata, or are they more in a hurry to get the flowers open? Thanks!

cbuchman · #2 10-02-2015, 09:35 AM

I only have a floribunda and it was quite speedy from spike to flower.

wintergirl · #3 10-02-2015, 07:06 PM

I'd like to throw another masdie question out there if I may... To those of you who use Kool logs, do you use less water in the log after the heat is gone? I grow indoors but even this summer my grow area was too hot and I started using the logs. They seem to like it so far but I am wondering about when it's cooler. Can't answer about spikes as I have not rebloomed yet.

cbuchman · #4 10-02-2015, 07:20 PM

My floribunda is on a Kool-Log. I hadn't thought about using less water. It needs constant moisture, so I would think that I would continue to keep the log with water in it.

AJW · #5 10-02-2015, 09:50 PM

Masdevallia also like the right level of light to stimulate growth and spiking. I left my (50%) shade cloth over their growing area during the winter and this tended to slow them down by some 4 weeks which was not what I wanted. Once the spike has reached its mature length I find they tend to take around 3 weeks to open. I also once they start to spike increase watering.

Tindomul · #6 11-08-2016, 11:38 AM

Yea most of the slow growing buds can take 3 weeks to open.

Winter girl I just got the kool logs, but I find that the moss stays moist for a few days even with the kool log empty. I tend to fill the kool almost everyday though. Its on the weekends that they don't get watered. On Monday morning they are still moist.

wintergirl · #7 11-08-2016, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tindomul

Yea most of the slow growing buds can take 3 weeks to open.

Winter girl I just got the kool logs, but I find that the moss stays moist for a few days even with the kool log empty. I tend to fill the kool almost everyday though. Its on the weekends that they don't get watered. On Monday morning they are still moist.

Kool-logs are great. It's not for every plant but it's wonderful for the ones that do well on them.
In the summer is when it's the most important to fill daily for the cool/wetness.