Masdevallia discolor is native to Colombia. This epiphytic species only meets in the Eastern Cordillera. They occurs at heights of 2200-2700 m in the departments of Cundinamarca and Boyacá...
Masdevallia discolor also called as The Different Colored Masdevallia, is a species of the genus Masdevallia. This species was described by Carlyle August Luer & Rodrigo Escobar in 1982.
IDENTIFY MASDEVALLIA DISCOLOR
Masdevallia discolor is native to Colombia. This epiphytic species only meets in the Eastern Cordillera. They occurs at heights of 2200-2700 m in the departments of Cundinamarca and Boyacá.
It is a mini-miniature sized, cold growing epiphyte, which reaching 7.0-11.5 cm in height, with blackish, erect, slender, 1.0-1.5 cm long ramicauls enveloped basally by 2 to 3 loose, tubular sheaths and carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, elliptical, obtuse to rounded, cuneate below into the petiolate base, 6-10 cm long leaf.
The Different Colored Masdevallia blooms in the winter and spring on a slender, erect, 10 to 11 cm long, single flowered inflorescence arising from low on the ramicaul with a bract near the base and a tubular floral bracts. The flowers are 5 cm in diameter. The outer whorls are greenish-white with red dots. The tail flap tip is chestnut, while the petiole flakes are yellow. The inner whorls are white with red dots at the ends. The white lip has purple spots. The white prong has a dark purple tip.
MASDEVALLIA DISCOLOR 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 discolor needs a light level of 8000-15000 lux. The light should be filtered and dispersed, and the plants should never be exposed to direct sunlight. Strong air movement should be ensured all the time. The plants grow best placed within the range of humid, cool air current near the outlet of the cold humidifier.
Temperature:
It is a cold-loving plant. Throughout the year, the average day temperature is 18-20 ° C, and the average night temperature is 9-11 ° C, while the daily amplitude varies from 8 ° C in summer to 11 ° C in winter.
Humidity:
The Different Colored Masdevallia needs the humidity of almost 70% for most of the year, rising to 75% in autumn.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Masdevallia discolor grow well attached to pieces of tree ferns or cork with high humidity and requires daily watering during the summer. During the dry and hot periods it may be necessary to water several times a day.
They are also grow in pots with a substrate which quickly draining excess water, which, however, contains substances that retain a certain amount - such as chopped sphagnum moss or perlite. Wood charcoal is also often added to ensure the air permeability of the substrate and protection against acidification.
It is recommend repotting the plants every year.
Watering:
Precipitation is moderate to heavy for most of the year, with semi-dry periods in winter and again in summer. The plants in cultivation should be constantly moist, and between subsequent waterings should only slightly dry out.
Fertilizer:
If the plants grow in the substrate with 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 fertilizer for orchids. If they 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 then in late summer and autumn use high phosphorus fertilizers to stimulate plants to flower.
Rest period:
Watering in winter can be somewhat reduced, especially in the case of Masdevallia discolor grown in dark, short days typical of higher latitudes. However, never let it completely dry up.
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