Masd. deformis

[stonedragonfarms]

This little guy is just starting to open this morning. I'll post a follow-up when they're all in bloom. It's another mini cool grower, though I beleive it will stand intermediate temps on the lower side as well.
Adam

[snow]

NICE!!!!!!!! like the moss as well
they all look verry healthy

[Dorothy]

Very cute little masdie
I like it
Congrats

[Ross]

That moss is really taking over, Adam. Nice flower by the way.

[Tindomul]

Wow Crazy moss you got there. I find that they grow Masdies and mosses together, alot. I can never get the moss to survive, and then shortly after my Masdie dies too. How do you do it?
That Masdie is amazing! I love the bright color!!!
IAccording to my book this is an intermediate grower in the Coccineae subsection of Masdevallia. The plant has disproportionate sized flowers for the size of the plant, hence the name defomis. First colleceted in Loja, Ecuador. Populations of these are dissapearing due to over collecting.

[Orchidflowerchild]

Originally Posted by Tindomul

[FONT="Palatino Linotype"]Wow Crazy moss you got there. I find that they grow Masdies and mosses together, alot. I can never get the moss to survive, and then shortly after my Masdie dies too. How do you do it?

Madevallias resent overly hard water or too much salt buildup. Mosses are similar. How hard is your water? It might be a reason for the decline of both moss and masdies.

-Cj

[stonedragonfarms]

Originally Posted by Orchidflowerchild

Madevallias resent overly hard water or too much salt buildup. Mosses are similar. How hard is your water? It might be a reason for the decline of both moss and masdies.

-Cj

Just thought that I'd chime in here...the well water that I use at the GH is super hard (read calcium/lime everywhere if it evaporates...) and the moss still flourishes. I think it has a lot to do with the underlying media--long fibre sphagnum moss, which is replaced every 9 months or so before it breaks down too much. The sphagnum keeps it nice and acid in the microclimate that is the pot...or so my theory goes. Now that I think about it, it seems that moss would actually like high calcium & lime...case in point: moss is often found over limestone and fossilized coral rock in subtropical climates, but not so often over granite or quartz.
Anyways, as I said, just my ramblings...
Adam

[Paul]

Beautiful -- if only it would handle warm temps...... *sigh*

[Ross]

Adam, I think the mosses we are talking about are pH independent - ie. I doubt basic/acid is the thing that assures growth. I think high moisture levels, steady diets of fertilizer (weak is fine) and proper lighting are the key ingredients. I can tell you for sure the moss on my mounts just shows up by itself and if I spray Physan on the mounts to control algae or something else, then the moss turns yellow then brown till the next batch shows up. I have one mount totally covered in this moss and it's a beaut. The mosses you refer to over limestone are not the same moss shown in your photo. I'm not a geek on moss names, but I understand this one is related to aquatic mosses.

[stonedragonfarms]

Originally Posted by Ross

Adam, I think the mosses we are talking about are pH independent - ie. I doubt basic/acid is the thing that assures growth. I think high moisture levels, steady diets of fertilizer (weak is fine) and proper lighting are the key ingredients. I can tell you for sure the moss on my mounts just shows up by itself and if I spray Physan on the mounts to control algae or something else, then the moss turns yellow then brown till the next batch shows up. I have one mount totally covered in this moss and it's a beaut. The mosses you refer to over limestone are not the same moss shown in your photo. I'm not a geek on moss names, but I understand this one is related to aquatic mosses.

Ok...I've done my moss reading for the evening ...
A couple of things about mosses: 1)they are rootless--they have a vegetative structure to help hold them in place, but they take no nourishment through this "root"--all food comes through pores in the "leaves" via the air/water that falls on them; because they do not depend on roots for nutrient uptake, they are adapted to grow on pretty much anything--rocks, trees, shingles, etc. 2)mosses in general prefer acid conditions, with high humidity and low levels of light. Don't want moss? Up the light, adjust the pH and dry them out.

I think that the moss you have on your mounts is probably the same stuff that I have on my lepanthes mounts, I believe it is some form of Vesicularia (related to Java Moss of aquarium keeping), which is in the clubmoss family. The stuff that is growing in with my potted Masdies is not the same stuff, but rather one of the simpler mosses... the fruit structure does not look the same.

Oh well, moss, love it or hate it (I love the stuff here...)
Adam