Leaf Drop on my Masdevallia Kimballiana! Help!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I own one of the parents to the hybrid Masd Kimballiana (Masd caudata x Masd vietchiana).

The one I have is Masd caudata.

Your temperature is not the problem. It's probably the pot size in relation to the root mass and the amount of moisture the media is retaining.

[nenella]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

I think the pot's too big.

Bring it down to a 2" pot. 2" short or 2" tall will depend on what's left of the roots. If I had to guess, the 2" short is the proper size.

I too agree!

I am not an expert on these but IMHO :- I too would down size the pot & 'air' the medium a bit more.. (make sure medium is mostly dryish near the base of the plant as moss retains humidity more) & it should make new roots and growths & come back...
I have had this happen and 'salvaged' my plant (in sphag) by also putting Leca pebbles around the base of the plant so it would stay drier.
Good luck & keep us posted!

[FlyingBrunswick]

I had this issue with my 3 massies and realized it was water rot from water hitting the leaves and soaking into any old sheaths left at the base. Even light spray from a spray bottle did it.

I started watering from the bottom and have no more loss and plenty of new growth to replace the lost leaves. Maybe something similar is happening with yours?

They have been growing in S/H since and I'm continually amazed by the water they drink - every morning the reservoir needs replenished.

[Becca]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

What kind is it?

It is a masdevallia sunset jaguar. It's not the pot size, the root mass is healthy and has filled the entire pot.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by Becca

It is a masdevallia sunset jaguar. It's not the pot size, the root mass is healthy and has filled the entire pot.

Which Masd Sunset Jaguar is it?

There's 'Nightbreed', which was what I used to have, (I also have a photo of it in my album, or somewhere - I bloomed that one out). If you have Masd Sunset Jaguar 'Nightbreed', these are ridiculously easy to grow for a Masdevallia and I can tell you right now it's not your temperatures either. It withstood our coldest cold, and our hottest summers. So, if you've got 'Nightbreed' temperatures are not it.

There's 'Wildcat'.

There's 'Psychedelic Sunset'.

Which is it?

How are you growing it?

Try posting a picture of it too.

[silken]

Originally Posted by blossom85

Hello and Thanks for Reading. I have a Masdevallia Kimballiana that stopped blooming about 3 months after I got it. Besides that, it was very healthy until now. It has begun dropping adult leaves. The leaves are not brown or mushy nor yellow. I water once every week with 3 parts water and 1 part 10-20-10 liquid formula. The temp in my house is 74 F during the day and 65 F at night. They just drop off from the base and don't grow back. Please help!

I'm not familiar with the fertilizer you use, but 1 part liquid fertilizer to 3 parts water sounds like too much. You could be burning up the roots and they can't support the plant. I don't have much experience with Masdies, but have 2 of them and I give them 1/4 strength fertilizer to what is recommended on the container. I also read that if your growing medium is a little high at the crown, new growths will die off. Another tip I read, is if the leaves aren't moving very gently from a breeze, it is not enough air movement. I think you should flush the moss thoroughly and give it some moving air.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

"blossom85"...

As far as fertilizers are concerned...

All I'll say is what I do, because I'm not familiar with the 1 part liquid fertilizer to 3 parts water thing that you're describing.

I use a urea free fertilizer at 1/4 to 1/2 strength of what is recommended on the container.

I think the N-P-K on yours is fine, but I've also done higher numbers on the N-P-K ratio with no ill effects.

As "silken" pointed out, don't bury any part of the stem in the media, it will cause rotting. However, judging from your photo, I don't see that happening with yours.

Masdevallias, like moderate to good air circulation.

[Becca]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Which Masd Sunset Jaguar is it?

There's 'Nightbreed', which was what I used to have, (I also have a photo of it in my album, or somewhere - I bloomed that one out). If you have Masd Sunset Jaguar 'Nightbreed', these are ridiculously easy to grow for a Masdevallia and I can tell you right now it's not your temperatures either. It withstood our coldest cold, and our hottest summers. So, if you've got 'Nightbreed' temperatures are not it.

There's 'Wildcat'.

There's 'Psychedelic Sunset'.

Which is it?

How are you growing it?

Try posting a picture of it too.

I first want to say, I'm not trying to hi-jack this thread, I just think that my problem is totally related and may help the original person who started the thread, so I hope they really don't mind this taking place. So with that said, here are some pictures that Philip asked for. And to answer Philips questions, I have Masd. Sunset Jaguar 'Psychedelic Sunset'. Right now my night time winter temps are around 60 to 62 degrees and day time temps are around the mid 70's. I water every 3 or 4 days, whenever the moss feels like it is almost not moist, but it never completely dries out. Sometimes I use MSU fertilizer at a quart strength when watering, sometimes I just use pure RO water, it just depends on when watering container is handy at the time. It sits in a east facing window sill currently. Let me know if any other info is needed or if I forgot something. I am hoping a response will be able to help others since my symptoms are similar.

[silken]

Becca, I don't know about anyone else, but I get a message when I try to look at your pictures. it says:
'Invalid Attachment specified. If you followed a valid link, please notify the administrator'

These masdies like high humidity-60% to 80%. Mine sit in a little enclosed 'greenhiuse' and get between 60 and 70% and moving air and seem OK. One of mine has Copper angel as a parent which is a parent of yours. That's all I can suggest. Orchidwiz also suggests not much fertilizer in dull overcast cooler times.

[Becca]

Try the link again, you probably tried to access them as I was editing my post to try and upload larger sized attachments. I did forget to add, my humidity is usually around 60% to 70% in my orchid room.