Masdevallia ayabacana is found in Peru. It is first collected by R. Stümple in Ayabaca, although it is thought that the collection data were erroneous since subsequent efforts by many to locate the species in this region near the Ecuadoran border were without success.
Masdevallia ayabacana also called as Ayabaca Masdevallia, Regalia ayabacana, is a species of the genus Masdevallia. This species was described by Carlyle August Luer in 1978. This species is named for the community of Ayabaca, Peru.
IDENTIFY MASDEVALLIA AYABACANA ORCHID PLANT
Masdevallia ayabacana is found in Peru. It is first collected by R. Stümple in Ayabaca, although it is thought that the collection data were erroneous since subsequent efforts by many to locate the species in this region near the Ecuadoran border were without success. It is known to be a locally abundant species in the Chanchamayo valley of central Peru, at elevation 1200 to 1800 meters above sea level.
It is a caespitose, miniature to just small sized, warm to cool growing epiphyte with 6 to 8 cm long ramicauls which are enveloped by graduating, scarious, inflated, tubular sheaths with oblanceolate, acute, shortly apiculate, variable in size, thickly coriaceous, articulated to the ramicaul, dark green leaf with a deeply tapered and channeled petiole.
Ayabaca Masdevallia blooms in the spring through fall on a 20 to 35 cm long, erect, 2 to 3 successive flowered inflorescence that is held way above the leaves and has 5 tubular, scarious, remote bracts. The flowers are 3 cm in size. The sepals are fleshy, dark red to purple, smooth externally, and minutely papillose to pubescent within. The triangular dorsal sepal attenuates into a slender, somewhat reflexed, orange to green tail, and the dorsal sepal is fused to the lateral sepals for 6 to 9 mm, forming a short, conical tube. The attenuated tails of the lateral sepals typically cross over one another.
MASDEVALLIA AYABACANA ORCHID PLANT 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 ayabacana like good light, but not direct light. 17000 - 22000 lux is a good amount of light. About 70-90% shade is recommended in summer and 25% shade to full sun in winter. It will flower better if receive plenty of light and leaves are pale green rather than dark green when in heavy shade.
Temperature:
Ayabaca Masdevallia like cool growing conditions from 5°C to 25°C. Ideally in winter they like a minimum of 10°C in and a maximum of 13°C. In summer the optimum range is 13 to 20°C. The temperature should not exceed 25°C and temperatures consistently above 30°C will weaken the plants and they may drop their leaves. Ensure 6-12°C day/night difference to aid flower formation.
Humidity:
This orchid prefer high humidity in summer near 75-80% and may need a humidifier over summer. Keep air circulation at all times to prevent water staying on leaves as this will encourage leaf spot.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Masdevallia ayabacana can be grown in basket or net pots. This orchid makes a particularly pleasing display when grown in a basket, which allows the large and unusual flowers on the long peduncles to be fully appreciated. They can also be grown in pots or mounted. They prefer a continuously damp medium. Some growers use chopped sphagnum moss mixed with polystyrene chips. Others use a pine bark, polystyrene and coarse perlite mix. A mix of 5 parts bark, 5 parts perlite and 1 part fibrous, not fine, peat moss is recommended. Their roots are small and many and will fill pots very quickly when growing well. Deeper pots are generally used and plants are potted out from being divided into 5cm tubes, 7-10cm pots or 12-15cm pots depending on size.
Repot or divide the plants during the autumn or spring every two years or when they are sufficiently large enough. It is best, as with most plants, to repot when the plants are about to root to minimize disturbance. Huge clumps must be divided as a considerable number of species tend to completely rot from the oldest parts of the clump. Do not bury the base of the plants. Double potting is beneficial to keep the plant roots cool.
Watering:
Ayabaca Masdevallia will not tolerate dry conditions and should be kept moist but not soggy. Their roots must be able to dry out slightly between waterings. In hot weather they need daily watering but in spring and autumn weekly watering should suffice. Water in the morning so leaves can be dry by midday. The plants should be provided with rain water or distilled water or a very pure water source. It is preferable to provide a humid environment than keeping roots too wet as they are prone to rotting.
Fertilizer:
Masdevallia ayabacana are generally active throughout the year although growth may be slower in winter. Use a balanced fertiliser at 1/4 strength throughout the year; feed at every third or fourth watering. If in doubt do not feed. These plants do not like salt so roots will easily turn brown if over fed. If plants need a boost then a dilute foliar feed can be applied. Higher feeding schedules can be used if the grower masters their culture perfectly well. Do not use lime or dolomite lime.
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