Masdevallia strobelii is native to Ecuador. These plants were found only in one place, in an inaccessible valley of a rainforest mountain forest in south-eastern Ecuador - between the regions of Loja and Zamora...
Masdevallia strobelii also called as Strobel's Masdevallia, is a species of the genus Masdevallia. This species was described by Herman Royden Sweet & Leslie Andrew Garay in 1966. This species was named in honor of José Strobel, who first exported the species.
IDENTIFY MASDEVALLIA STROBELII
Masdevallia strobelii is native to Ecuador. These plants were found only in one place, in an inaccessible valley of a rainforest mountain forest in south-eastern Ecuador - between the regions of Loja and Zamora. They grow at an altitude of about 1400 m above sea level in highly-lit positions at the tops of tree crowns and even on fence posts.
It is an epiphytic, mini-miniature sized, warm to cool growing species, which reaching 6-9 cm tall, with slender, erect, ramicauls enveloped basally by 2 to 3 loose tubular sheaths carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, elliptical, acute, 4-6 cm long leaf with the base cuneate into the slender petiole.
Strobel's Masdevallia blooms with a slender, suberect to horizontal, 3 to 4.5 cm long, single flowered inflorescence arising from low on the ramicaul with a bract above the base and a floral bract holding the showy, fragrant flowers at mid leaf occurring in the early winter. The flowers are 2-4 cm in diameter. The outer petals of the perianth are white but up to half, starting from the base of the spine, intensely saturated with bright orange color. Their upper half is densely covered with glandular creatures, which in turn are covered with fine hairs. The upper petal of the outer perianth is connected to the lateral lobes for most of its length to form a cylindrical tube. The free apical portion tapers rapidly into a thin, raised, yellow-orange petiole. The side petals of the outer whorl are slightly longer than the upper and connected to the rest on almost the entire length, forming an egg-shaped area. The rounded tops of the side petals of the outer whorl also suddenly narrow into the yellow-orange petioles. The small, rectangular inner petals of the perianth are yellow-orange, the lip is white, and the rod is yellow-white.
Masdevallia strobelii has been used extensively to generate Masdevallia hybrids, and several of the resulting registered hybrids have produced spectacular plants. Some Masdevallia strobelii heritage is in the background of many hybrids popular in cultivation today, in particular, Masdevallia Angel Frost.
MASDEVALLIA STROBELII CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Masdevallia strobelii needs a light level of 12000-20000 lux. It requires a medium bright position. The light should be filtered and dispersed, and the plants should not be exposed directly to the sun. Strong air movement should be ensured all the time.
Temperature:
It is a thermophilic plant. Throughout the year, the average day temperature is 27-29 ° C , and the average night temperature 16-18 ° C , with daily amplitude of 10-13 ° C.
Humidity:
Strobel's Masdevallia needs the humidity of 80% throughout the year.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Masdevallia strobelii grow well also mounted on pieces of tree ferns or cork, but in the summer it requires high humidity and daily watering. In the case of such attached plants, during the dry and hot periods it may be necessary to water several times a day.
They can also be grow in pots with a substrate that quickly draining excess water, which, however, contains substances that retain a certain amount - such as chopped sphagnum moss or perlite. You can also add charcoal to ensure the air permeability of the substrate and protection against acidification. It is recommend repotting the plants every year.
Watering:
Rainfall recorded by weather stations in the natural environment is weak within a year. The plants in cultivation should be kept evenly moist throughout the year. Do not let it completely dry.
Fertilizer:
If the plants grow in sphagnum moss, tree fern fibers or osmunda fern roots, they should be fertilized every 3-4 weeks 1/4-1/2 of the recommended dose of orchid fertilizer during the period of strong growth. If they are grown in a bed of pine bark, fertilization can be applied every 1-2 weeks.
At the beginning of the year, when the plants grow actively, instead of fertilizers with equal proportions NPK, you can use fertilizers with high nitrogen content. In late summer and autumn, you use high phosphorus fertilizers to stimulate plants to flower.
Rest period:
Masdevallia strobelii need less water in the winter, especially if they grow under the conditions of a dark, short day that occurs in moderate latitudes. However, do not allow it to completely dry up. Fertilization should also be limited in cases where the amount of sunlight is low, the day short or the watering is reduced.
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