Masdevallia tonduzii is native to Costa Rica and Panama. These plants grow in warm, moist, lowland forests near the Caribbean coast, in eastern Costa Rica and adjacent Panama. Usually, they can be found growing on tall trees at an altitude of 300-800 m above sea level...
Masdevallia tonduzii also called as Tonduz' Masdevallia, Reichantha tonduzii, is a species of the genus Masdevallia. This species was described by Woolward in 1906. This species was named in honor of Adolphe Tonduz of the l’Institut Phytogeographique de Costa Rica, who discovered it in 1894.
IDENTIFY MASDEVALLIA TONDUZII
Masdevallia tonduzii is native to Costa Rica and Panama. These plants grow in warm, moist, lowland forests near the Caribbean coast, in eastern Costa Rica and adjacent Panama. Usually, they can be found growing on tall trees at an altitude of 300-800 m above sea level.
It is a miniature to small sized, hot to cool growing epiphyte, which reaching 5-11 cm in height, with a cylindric 1 to 1.3 cm long stem enveloped by 2 to 3 close, tubular bracts carrying a single, erect, fleshy, spatulate, coriaceous, 4.5-9.0 cm long leaf with a petiole at the base.
Tonduz' Masdevallia blooms on an suberect to horizontal, 7 to 9 cm long, 2 to 3 flowered, racemose inflorescence arising from low on the ramicaul with a bract below the middle and tubular floral bracts that holds the successively single flower just above the leaf occurring in the fall and winter. The flowers are 6.25 cm in diameter. The outer petals of the perianth are white or white and yellow and turn yellow in the direction of the base. They are smooth on the outside and covered with hairs on the inside. The white petals have a green central nerve. The white lip is partially saturated in green or yellow. The spine is light green.
MASDEVALLIA TONDUZII 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 tonduzii needs a light level of 8000-15000 lux. The light should be filtered and dispersed, and the plants should not be exposed to direct sunlight. 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 is 19-22 ° C, which gives a 6-8 ° C daily amplitude.
Humidity:
Tonduz' Masdevallia needs the humidity of 85-90% for most of the year. This species has a reputation for being difficult to grow, requiring high humidity, good ventilation, and care not to allow the roots or stems to rot due to overwatering.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Masdevallia tonduzii grow well attached to pieces of tree ferns or cork with high humidity and 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 quickly draining excess water substrate, 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 these plants every year.
Watering:
Rainfall is moderate to heavy throughout the year, with a short, slightly drier late period in winter or early spring. The substrate of the plants in cultivation should be moist, and between each waterings should only slightly dry out.
Fertilizer:
If these 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. If they grown in pine bark, fertilization can be applied every 1-2 weeks.
At the beginning of the year, when 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 the plants to flower.
Rest period:
Watering in winter can be somewhat reduced, especially in the case of Masdevallia tonduzii grown in dark places, in the conditions of a short day typical of higher latitudes. However, do not allow them to completely dry out. If watering is limited, fertilization should also be reduced.
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