Repotting my Masdevallia?
 

Hi! I got a Masdevallia 'Redwing' from a fellow member of my orchid society. Based on the picture below, does it look like it needs to be repotted? If so, what media do you suggest I use?

It looks like it could use a repotting. I use New Zealand sphagnum moss for all my Masdevallias and Draculas on advice from here (sorry, don't remember who).

I also use baskets. I like octagonal wood Vanda-type but you could use plastic ones, sometimes the flowers (especially on the Draculas) come out the bottom not the top.

I'm going to be a newbie at these because I have just ordered my first one and am going to order a couple more this morning. So I picked a fellow at Seattle Orchids brain and he said he plants them in New Zealand Spag just like Laserbeak say's, he also told me he puts them in terra cotta pots and puts packing peanuts in the middle.

Yours looks really nice.

Redwing is a great choice, it can do well in a wide range of temps. I use CHC with my masdies.
Is that one of Dennis' plants? He tends to let them get real potbound. That's probably why his plants do so well.

Bill

Hi Bill! Yes, it was Dennis' plant. How big of a pot should I go up to? The current pot is 2" x 2"

Wintertime is the best time for repotting Masdies, which should be carried out as long as the medium and the roots are still in good condition. Give 2-3 centimeters more in potsize.

Yes, unglazed and untreated (this is important) clay pots with fresh NZ Sphag.

Re-pot again when the sphag breaks down. It will break down faster than bark, but it's worth it as a medium for these plants. They can be re-potted at any time. It's more important to keep the media fresh than to worry about the calendar.

If you use seaweed, I suggest a dose when you move pots at least once. I've seen a big difference in stronger roots when using seaweed on my masdies.

Did you just get this plant or has it been in your collection for several years? If it is a new plant then I suggest patience. It is quite large, meaning it has established a working solution to whatever environmental irregularities it has experienced in the past. Now that it is in your collection it faces its ultimate challenge. My advice is to just leave it in the pot for 6 months and observe it. If it is in active growth, then a bigger pot will be appreciated. Pleurothallids tend to like a constantly moist medium and long fiber sphagnum moss is the best choice.

It's beautiful! What a nice sized plant.

---------- Post added at 08:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:03 PM ----------

All of my masdies are in growth phase or throwing spikes. I'll repot any that need it when spikes are gone and growth is evident.

I have several small seedlings/divisions that have really not done much. I'm considering a variation on the potting mix and going with all clay for them. I want to eventually get them all in clay pots.

Jeremy, what's been your experience with CHC? Have you ever tried it?

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and tips.

I repotted my Masdevallia 'Redwing' into a 3x3 inch aircone pot, with a mix of fine sphagnum moss, fine fir bark, perlite and charcoal. The roots were in great shape. I've been watering with Reverse/Osmosis water and very weak fertilizer.

I have a few orchids in CHC but they are ones I acquired (from someone else on this board) and I kept them in that to experiment. None of my Masdevallias are in it.

I have 90% of mine in Sphag with clay pots. This combo helps draw the moisture through the roots and out the pot which gives the roots the moisture they like, with 'movement', and also helps keep them cool, which they like.

The other 10% I have are in seedling Orchiata (fine pine bark) and they are only in that because I haven't re-potted from when I got them this year. Many growers around here will use the Orchiata because they don't like how quickly the sphag will break down and require a re-pot (once a year or so).

But by far the best plants are in the Sphag and clay pots.

Thanks for your response Jeremy.

I have all mine in sphag at the moment. I repot them yearly for the reason you stated. I was interested in the CHC because of my set up, the plants get more water in the summer than I like. That may change this year though since I have the fogger and swamp cooler for the greenhouse and will be using the misters less.

My thought was to try a 4:1 sphag/CHC in the clay pots to see how they do with that.

Earlier this year, I put a couple of Masd. in clay to see how they would do. So far they seem to be doing well, one has a new growth. These particular plants were young and small and hadn't really done much of anything this year. Hopefully they like the pots and continue to grow.

I have 5 different Masdevallias, and it seems to me they almost never truly stop growing. One yellow one I have in particular grows continuously, and is getting pretty big (it's filling out a 5" pot now). I grow all of mine in clay pots mainly to keep them from blowing over (they grow outside in the shade). They're fun orchids, and I hope my most recent acquisition (M. ignea) from Andy's blooms this Spring. It's super healthy.

I'd be curious how things develop if you do try it.

Do you use seaweed?

Yes, I do use seaweed. I've had some good results with it.
I'll certainly let you know how it goes with the new mix. I think I'm going to try it. I'm a little nervous, but I think it's worth a shot.

Are you putting anything in the bottom of the pots when you repot your Masd.? Or are you using straight sphag?

---------- Post added at 10:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:38 PM ----------

Your weather is perfect for Masdevallia. You have those cool days and nights there and humidity. We lack the humidity in the Summer. Hopefully my new swamp cooler keeps the humidity up better this summer.

I break a bigger hole in the bottom of the pot than it comes with. Allows for more airflow and drainage that way.

If I need to fill some space, I will use Styrofoam peanuts.

I use styrofoam packing peanuts as well in the bottoms of the pots. It does give better drainage. I've had roots growing into them!

I currently use CHC on its own and have had good success, just check your CHC after about 18 months as after this I have found it goes bad and can rot roots if left to go to two years.
Being as I sell supplies I am thinking about changing the CHC to something I supply or can supply.
ie, fine bark mix, or plain Sphagnum moss