Masdevallia potting experiment

[Paul Mc]

Thought I'd let everyone here benefit from my experiment, based upon Ray's website info.

I've never been good with Masdevallias, but have finally managed to keep one alive for over a year now. It hasn't been too happy, but alive nonetheless.

I had been considering using a modified zeer pot for evaporative cooling effect when Ray suggested using S/H in a modified scenario to also create a similar effect. Since I had the LECA to use, I did just that. However, I also have clay pots and sand as well to create a side by side test with once I find a few more Masdie's to add to the experiment.

My 2 Masdie's are now potted in only LECA inside unglazed clay pots. The pots are say directly in a saucer of water, with care that the roots are not immediately on top of the water line.

As ambient humidity can be an issue with evaporative rates, I placed a small fan right next to the pots so there is constant airflow, hopefully increasing the evaporation rate inside and around the pots.

Here is a pic.


After 1 complete day in this setting, I had to refill the saucers about 3 times. Further, I had an orchid in a clay pot without LECA that I say nearby so I could feel both and see if there was a notable temp difference on the outside of the pot. I was shocked at the temp difference I was able to feel just by hand! What the actual temp difference is I have yet to test though. However, the combo of the hand feeling test and the need to refill many times in 1 day would suggest that something is working.

As others have stated, which I fully agree with, the plants will ultimately be the judge of this set up, lol...

Just thought someone out there might find this interesting and perhaps even helpful.

[Connie Star]

I'll follow this. I have a few Masdies and have pretty good luck with them. They are mostly in plastic pots with sphag/treefern/perlite mix. However, I keep them in a semi-enclosed plastic tent with a humidifier on them. I also have them in the lower level of the house which is air-conditioned in the summer. Right now they are not looking as good because I let the humidity get too low for a few weeks. LECA may be a good solution.

[AnonYMouse]

I have two masdies in cool pots with sphag. Since I hate sphag, I should try this on my other two and compare.

Keep us posted on the progress.

[Paul Mc]

AnonYMouse, I tried the cool pots with sphag, but the basin in the bottom of the cool pot retained way too much water and destroyed the root zone I believe. My second attempt was using a fine bark potting mix, but the bark broke down so fast in the standing water it again killed them. I have given up on the cool pots because I feared I wasn't using them properly.

[ronaldhanko]

Eager to see how this turns out in the long run, Paul.

[AnonYMouse]

Originally Posted by Paul Mc

AnonYMouse, I tried the cool pots with sphag, but the basin in the bottom of the cool pot retained way too much water and destroyed the rot zone I believe.

That's kinda funny because I'm normally an over-waterer but I found early on that the evaporation worked so well that the root were desiccated.

I'm currently finding that the distance from the fan makes a huge difference. The one closest dries 3x faster than the one one foot away.

I'm hoping your method works. I really really hate sphag.

[Paul Mc]

So did you have a fan on yours? I didn't so maybe that was a key issue. Perhaps also our relative humidity is a difference then. Living so close to the Mississippi River, our humidity is usually fairly good. It does dip below 50 from time to time, but generally we are quite humid.

[Paul Mc]

BTW, Ray gets all the credit for this set up. It is demonstrated on his website.

[isurus79]

Looks pretty good! I'm wondering if the wind from fan might dry out the Masdies though. While I have limited experience with Masdies, they seem to really like high humidity around the plant as well as the roots. Maybe Ron could address this.

When I was in Hawaii, I saw the drying effects of constant wind on my plants. I had to constantly water even the plants that prefer dry conditions like Schombos and R. digbyana.

[Paul Mc]

I do turn the fan off at night, but you may be right. Good food for thought and consideration! Thank you! Originally, I did it to create more evaporative cooling around the pot as my indoor humidity right now ranges between 40 to 60. Open to thoughts in this!