Cool Pot for masdevallias

[herr alexandre]

Has anyone used a "Cool Pot" produced by The Orchid Gallery (theorchidgallery.net)? I live in Washington DC (very hot and humid summers) and would love to own a Masdevallia without killing it. Someone has recommended a "Cool Pot". I would love to know if they really make a difference. I realize there are other variables, but do these help at all? The Masdevallia I'm considering is a Margeurite. The one I really want a Machu Picchu, but I'm told they are more sensitive. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

[WhiteRabbit]

I'm curious too. Hope someone has tried them and can let us know

[billc]

In theory they sound good, and they are nice looking, but they are rather pricey. You can probably get close to the same results using a clay pot with some crocking. What temps do you have in summer in your growing area?

Bill

[fishmommy]

I am trying them now...too early to tell
They're nice though!

I am trying them on Masd., on Den. cuthbertsonii, and on a couple of Sophronitis

[goodgollymissmolly]

I'm testing 100 of them. They are definitely cooler than clay pots doubled with air space (which are pretty cool themselves). Previously we tested 4 and all 4 produced excellent roots, but so did the clay pots in many instances so a bigger test was needed.

The Masdies that Geraldine grows in them are pretty darn impressive considering her climate. A sample of 1 won't tell you much, but I have done enough to know it won't be negative. I just can't say how positive it will be. Remember this is not a miracle, just a step towards potential success.

[Paul Mc]

So I have some of these but not sure I used it correctly or watered too much or something. I had no success with it at all. How do you care for them in these cool pots?

[goodgollymissmolly]

That's exactly what I meant when I said it is not a miracle. Thanks for the verification. Everything else has to be done right too.

Think of the cloud forest (or the US Pacific northwest). Cool, humid, frequently low light (especially in the cloud forest where fog is almost constant). Wet and wet with pure water, not with water containing dissolved minerals. We try for that in a climate that is not that way.

We water daily (sometimes twice a day) only with rain water and dilute MSU fertilizer. The plants are directly in front of the cooler wall where the humidity during hot weather is basically 100% and the temperature is as cool as possible (but not really cool enough). plants are in loose sphagnum.

This is far from perfect. Masdies are still a challenge. We wil never be as good as the people in the NW with them where the climate helps them some. But we can grow them. They don't die. The foliage suffers by late summer and we don't seem to be able to prevent that. For the most part the roots are adequate to excellent and the plants thrive. We do protect them from bright light with multiple shade cloth covers (50% + 30% over the GH in mid summer plus a 50% internal "house over the Masdies). Max light about 1500 fc in summer.

Like I say this is not perfection and probably never will be but it works reasonably well so that we can actually grow Masdies. Would be smart to grow things better suited to our climate? Yes and we do, but it's a challenge and we like Masdies so we keep experimenting like with the cool pots.

If you think all you need to do is spend a little money on cool pots and you will suddenly be successful, think again.

[Wjs2nd]

Take a smaller clay pot and put it in a larger clay. Then, take the space between them and fill with sphag moss. Keep the moss moist all the time and it keeps the inner pot cool. *i have never tried this myself but have heard/read it works. Good luck!

[herr alexandre]

Originally Posted by billc

In theory they sound good, and they are nice looking, but they are rather pricey. You can probably get close to the same results using a clay pot with some crocking. What temps do you have in summer in your growing area?

Bill

I haven't grown anything in this room in the summer yet. I'd say it can get into the 80's easily but I have a window air conditioner that I can run. The window this plant is in is north facing and I have a 20 watt (5000K) CFL in a round clamp lamp on it.

[herr alexandre]

Originally Posted by goodgollymissmolly

We water daily (sometimes twice a day) only with rain water and dilute MSU fertilizer. The plants are directly in front of the cooler wall where the humidity during hot weather is basically 100% and the temperature is as cool as possible (but not really cool enough). plants are in loose sphagnum.

Wow! Do they really take this much water? I have been so terrified by all of the books, posts, etc. that say not to overwater my orchids that I'm afraid to water the ones that actually need to stay wet. I have two phrags (Bessae) that I water maybe twice a week. Perhaps I should be watering these and any Masdevallia that I get more often.