Masdevallia in SH

[billc]

About 6-8 weeks ago I think it was Joann(zxyqu) posted in a thread that she was growing Masdies in SH. I decided to give it a try on one one my hybrids that needed to be repotted. Angel Fling has taken well to the new media. There is new root growth, new leaves and even a few spikes. There is some yellowing of the older leaves, but that was to be expected and it happens on the ones I have in CHC also.
The only thing I'm still in a quandary about is when and how much to feed it. I feed my other Masdies about once a month and I've done the same with this. I'm thinking with the SH I should maybe be feeding more frequently. We'll see how it goes.


Bill

[camille1585]

Normally if your feeding rate is low enough (say 60ppm N or so) you should be able to fertilize at most waterings and not just once a month.

For the once a month fertilizing, I would tend to think the same as you, but on the other hand in bark/chc you do end up flushing out a lot of the nutrients when you water with plain water after your monthly fert. I guess it depends on how much of the fertilizer each media retains.

[Discus]

I think part of Ray's S/H growing philosophy is to always fertilise whenever you grow in S/H - there should be enough flushing with fresh fertigation water that salt buildup isn't an issue. I'm sure he'll chime in soon enough.

His generally recommended S/H ppm of N is 125, but I imagine this could be cut back for more sensitive species like Masdevallias.

[camille1585]

I believe that Ray uses that amount because it allows to use one dosage roughly suitable for a collection that is varied in its fertilizer needs. Of course Cyms and Vandas may be a bit starved on that, and masdies a bit overfed, but it's a good average.

But from discussions I had here back when I got my first masdie, if you can tailor fertilizing a bit more precisely, then it's better to go for 60-80 ppm N for the masdies if you fertilize at nearly all waterings.

[Discus]

Handy to know, thanks Camille.

[Ray]

Actually , Ray "used" (note past tense) that much because it was the recommendation of the folks that developed the fertilizer. Relatively recently, I was told that the 125 ppm level wasn't any scientific choice, but the folks at Michigan State "tried it and it seemed to be OK".

About 6 months ago I dropped my concentration to about 75-80 ppm N. My "logic" being that it is well-established that lab rats and people live longer, healthier lives if fed a moderate, but nutritionally complete diet, and that those that "overeat" are more susceptible to diseases and ailments. So why not plants?

As to Bill's feeding quandary, if you have an established, successful, intermittent, feeding regimen, and you want to convert that to (what I think is better for the plants) a continuous feeding regimen, simply reduce the concentration relative to the feeding and watering frequency.

For example, if you feed 200 ppm N once every 4th watering, simply divide that by four, and apply 50 ppm N at every watering.

[Discus]

Thanks for the update, Ray.

To me the logical corollary of caloric restriction for plants would be more shade rather than less ferts

[billc]

I've been operating under the premise that Masdies are not heavy feeders and thrive on pure water with minimal feeding. I've been feeding the ones in CHC @75 PPM which seems to work OK. I think I'll increase the feeding on the one in SH to 2X a month and take it from there.
I do experience a yellowing of older leaves that I attributed to the age of the leaf and my less than optimal conditions for Masdies. Maybe I need to up the feeding a bit for the ones in a mix?

Bill

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Discus

Thanks for the update, Ray.

To me the logical corollary of caloric restriction for plants would be more shade rather than less ferts

that's certainly one way to look at it, but while I don't have as precise control over the light the plants get, I can control the "building blocks" the plants need to turn into "calories".

[Bud]

Thanks for the infos...I will try two of my masdies on S/H