Masdevallia orchid care and culture

Masdevallia orchid also called as The Flag Orchid, Acinopetala, Alaticaulia, Buccella, Byrsella, Diodonopsis, Fissia, Jostia, Luerella, Luzama, Megema, Petalodon, Portillia, Regalia, Reichantha, Rodrigoa, Spectaculum, Spilotantha, Streptoura, Triotosiphon, Zahleria, is agenus of the Orchidaceae family. This genus was described by Hipólito Ruiz López & José Antonio Pavón in 1794.

There are over 500 species, grouped into several subgenera. The genus is named for Jose Masdeval, a physician and botanist in the court of Charles III of Spain. The type species of this genus is Masdevallia uniflora.

They are attractive because of their compact growth habit and the mass of blooms they produce. Many hybrids have been developed and these are more vigorous and flower several times during the year.

IDENTIFY MASDEVALLIA ORCHID PLANT

Masdevallia orchid are found from Mexico to southern Brazil, but mostly in the higher regions of the Andes of Ecuador and Colombia, Peru and Bolivia. They are mostly found in cloud forests in mountainous regions at altitudes up to 4000 meters with uniform growing conditions throughout the year.

They are miniature to medium sized epiphytes, terrestrials or growing as lithophytes on damp rocks with abbreviated to elongate and creeping rhizome, no pseudobulbs and store moisture in their roots and leaves. The leaves are smooth and most often paddle shaped, sometimes they may be narrow giving them a grass-like appearance. The leaves are usually narrowed toward their base creating the appearance of a petiole. One unusuall species, Masdevallia caesia, has fleshy straped shaped leaves that hang pendently.

Peak flowering is in winter and spring. The flowers are triangular and occur singly or in racemose inflorescences. The sepals are variously connate and commonly with tails. The petals are small with a callous margin often developed into a tooth. The lip is more or less ligulate and hinged to an incurved extension from the apex of the column foot. The column is terete with a hooded ventral anther with 2 pollina. Flower colour and shape varies greatly but those with bright orange and red flowers are particularly striking.

MASDEVALLIA 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 orchid like good light, but not direct light. 17000 - 22000 lux is a good amount of light for these plants. They prefer to be mounted high in the shade house and will flower better if they receive plenty of light and leaves are pale green rather than dark green when in heavy shade.

About 70-90% shade is recommended in summer and 25% shade to full sun in winter. Plants may be placed low in the glasshouse over summer but must be given higher light levels in winter for good flowering. Plants can be grown in indoors in bathrooms or kitchens if there is good indirect light with a periodic spelling outside.

Temperature:

Masdevallias orchid can be divided into 3 groups: the cool to cold growers (10°C at nights, maximum 20°C at days), the intermediate growers (13°C at nights, maximum 23°C at days) and the warm growers (16°C at nights, maximum at 26°C days). For all ensure 6-12°C day/night difference to aid flower formation. Most of these plants are from high altitude cloud forests and require very cool conditions and abundant moisture throughout the year. They cannot tolerate dryness, low humidity, or excessive temperatures and the plants are very easy to kill.

They 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. In summer they need to be shaded and it may be necessary to provide cooling. The temperature should not exceed 25°C and temperatures consistently above 30°C will weaken the plants and they may drop their leaves. They will take higher temperatures near 40°C for short periods providing humidity is kept high. Some plants from cold regions will grow outside but mostly they need protection from frost. Some will tolerate temperatures down to zero but it is not desirable. While most will survive winter in a protected shade house others need a minimum temperature of about 7-10°C so some heating may be required. If temperatures are 8°C or lower the air must be kept moving with fans.

Hybrids are generally more tolerant of a wider range of temperatures than species. An evaporative cooler and frequent misting at 10 minute intervals to keep humidity around 70% will assist in ameliorating the effects of high temperature in summer. Hot dry air must be avoided at all costs.

Humidity:

High humidity (50-65%) should be maintained for these plants as their natural habitat occurs in the cloud line. They 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 orchid can be grown in basket or net pots to assist drying or for Dracula types that send their flowers down through the mix. 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:

They 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:

These plants 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 on Masdevallias.

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Masdevallia orchid care and culture

IDENTIFY MASDEVALLIA ORCHID PLANT

MASDEVALLIA ORCHID PLANT CARE AND CULTURE

Light:

Temperature:

Humidity:

Substrate, growing media and repotting:

Watering:

Fertilizer:

BUY MASDEVALLIA ORCHID PLANT AND RELATED PRODUCTS

SOME SPECIES AND VARIETIES OF MASDEVALLIA ORCHID WITH CARE TIPS AND CULTURE SHEET:

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Masdevallia orchid care and culture

IDENTIFY MASDEVALLIA ORCHID PLANT

MASDEVALLIA ORCHID PLANT CARE AND CULTURE

Light:

Temperature:

Humidity:

Substrate, growing media and repotting:

Watering:

Fertilizer:

BUY MASDEVALLIA ORCHID PLANT AND RELATED PRODUCTS

SOME SPECIES AND VARIETIES OF MASDEVALLIA ORCHID WITH CARE TIPS AND CULTURE SHEET:

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COMMENTS

Followers

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