I'm growing them myself and did kill a few, then learned even more that kept my current species alive and growing. In general, Masdevallia orchids in the wild grow in rain forests at such high elevations that clouds constantly linger in the trees. This produces an abundance of moss. I've learned that these orchids do very well in 100% pearlite ( or 90% pearlite + 10% vermiculite) with a 1/4" layer of sphagnum moss on top simulating the moss on the surface of a tree. When the moss is almost completely dry, water with distilled water. If your home climate is not naturally humid, they do best in a terrarium or mini-greenhouse. With a greenhouse, keep the air moving around them or else expect lots of black spots. If you are short on space, set the plant in a large glass jar big enough so the sides are well away from the plant and pot so that the leaves barely reach the opening above. Keep water at the bottom in gravel for humidity yet somehow keep the water away from the bottom of the pot. If you try this and don't over or under water, you will notice that the Masdes root horizontally like mad and simultaneously send a few roots vertically. The majority of the roots will be found in the thin moss layer. WARNING: if you do 100% sphagnum moss and are not diligent on how wet the inside of the pot gets, you will rot out those roots in a hurry. If the moss layer is too thick and holds too much water for too long, good luck to you and your poor specimen. These guys are not the most popular or common collector orchid due to the sensitivity of their water and aeration needs. As far as i know, the next most difficult to grow are the Draculas. As you can tell, I highly recommend using a combination of organic and inorganic. Pearlite and the way water evaporates from it aids in keeping the plants cooler than most other media including the clay balls. Moss in my dry region of southern Oregon makes a huge difference. Pearlite does not rot, ensures airflow and keeps Masdes colder.
AOS is a good reference. I have one and another suggestion to keep it cooler is if you have a clip on little fan or a fan you can put it by then do this. The orchid center I buy my orchids the owner has a separate room with a lot of air circulation and the temps is a lot cooler. Another good person or resource is Sue Bottom. A lot of research and findings. Hope this helps you with the cooler growers because you know how “cool” they are to grow! Lol sorry couldn’t resist!
MissOrchidGirl keep me updated because my cool growers are so moody! 😜 I honestly think when I try they are saying nah nah boo boo lol. Have a great day
Hi, I will keep the pot on a bigger dish yes, no need for a whole container, moss holds a ton of water ;) also, the clay pot provides the humidity, a container full of water gives very little due to surface tension.
Interesting video Danni - thank you - I don't know if its possible for you but I was thinking why not keep the Masdevallia in the house in the airconditioning......just a thought - keep us updated on its evolution.
I think it should do well in that, so long as you always keep it moist. Maybe put a neon sign next to it that says "WATER ME" to remind you. 😜 I'm thinking I might try a zygo in semi hydro, but with small seramis mixed in, should be better for a terrestrial since the air pockets would be filled in, what do you think?
Hi Danny, You should’ve stuck you hand in the plastic pot with sphagnum moss, and in the clay pot with sphagnum moss, and tell witch is colder by hand, and choose from there, or left it in the plastic pot with no drainage holes, and still with sphagnum moss, but then put another pot around the plastic pot and fill the second pot around it with ice cubes, if the plastic pot is colder.
Already knew the answer to that but if you want specifics, sh pots were around 25 degs, clay was at 21 :) the logic is: leca is not as porous. The idea was to make it functional as well, if I would depends on ice cubes it would have been a big hassle.
Could you do a general care guide for Bletilla orchids? I just received a Bletilla Yokohama 'kate', which I suggest you get, it's beautiful, and I'd love to see one of your orchid guides on this type of orchid.
hey Danni, I have a question that is completely unrelated to this video, but I have a Den. Aphyllum in my care, and it says that the aphyllum needs a winter rest. the problem i'm having is that i don't have winter. Is there any chance that just weaning the plant off water could help induce a dormancy period? i'm not really sure the plant will like it, but i saw a beautiful mass of flowering aphyllum near to where i live and i don't think that there was a dormancy period on it. thanks!!!
Hi! I purchased a Masdevallia orchid planted in kokedama and it's been with me for more than a year now doing very very well! Kokedama is a japanese technique where plants grow in tight balls of moss (with the appropiate substrate inside). I live in Spain, so, I have a dry and hot enviroment but this method seems to be working! Maybe you can give it a try!
Hi, if you visit the description you'll see my kokedama attempt ;) kokedama doesn't solve the temperature problem sadly, reason why it's not the best option for me with this orchid.
Heyo, I have just repotted my phalaenopsis about a week ago in just charcoal pieces. I didn't include any sphagnum moss because I'm scared that it'll cause some rotting. I keep my orchid in an air conditioned room because I can't keep them anywhere else. Now onto the problem. I fully soak the pot in water but after a few hours the put returns to its dried out state. What do I do? :(
Hi, the only thing you can do is change the medium. Charcoal retains almost no water, it is used in very humid climates mainly :) or you can water every day and it will be ok as well.
Hi Danny. Caught this vid a day late. I just repot yesterday in moss also, but different reason. Repotting a phal for Mom on Mother’s Day bc Leca and bark don’t work for her, she only water every other week !! My phal had a lot of thick roots so I had to push in the moss holding the root ball upside down, and it with many buds, carefully !!! I also used a holy clay pot. Actually I had a second plant that I put in a netted pot, then clay pot for weight. The Leca on the bottom is good idea but the roots will stick to side of pot also ? Looking forward to your update on this guy. Oh I have a recuse phal ( from garbage pile ) in moss and it’s ain’t dead yet. Actually roots has hydrated and lookin good. Waiting for growth before adding bark and Leca before converting to all Leca. Good luck on your Masdi !!! 🤞🙈.
Always enjoy your videos. You handle orchid growing in such a scientific way. I learn a great deal from you. I'll look forward to seeing how this orchid develops. I only have one Masdevallia in my collection here in S. FL USA. I do have a question for you about my Chysis. It is a beautiful orchid, but I want to repot it. It is in sphagnum. I'm not a fan of using this medium. Do you know of any other medium I could use? I've read that tree fern would be suitable, but have no experience in using it at all. Thanks.
Hi, I have it in semi hydroponics and grows well. The idea is that it's a thirsty orchid, so any medium can do, if it is airy enough, but you have to keep up with watering. The more water retentive the setup is, the less frequent you'll have to water.
Found this very interesting and informative! Do you physically document all these situations and if so do you have recommendations on doing this? I had to mini phals that went from seemingly happy healthy to rootless and nearly rootless. Now trying to save them.
danny I just think that you should have potted the three divisions in three separate pots so if something happens to one the others will continue but I guess this will work too
Hi, well I would start with the culture and environment. Masdies like humid conditions, both air and medium, low fertilizer and cool temperatures. See if there is something you're not doing quite right first. Good luck!
HELP please what should i do if i have mold in my pot (semi hydro with a lycaste ciliata)...i alredy tried to boil the leca and i use hydrogenperoxide on the plant 2 times alredy! even thought it appeared again! please help me i don't know what i should do??
Manuels Plants If there is mold in the pot that means that something is decomposing, I would unpot and remove any dead roots. Also mold can indicate poor airflow, a fan in the room can help!
I have several Masds. Some are in clay pots with a fine bark/sphag/perlite mix, others are in net pots in plain sphag. I have 1 in Leca, so that one, I'll keep an eye on. She does have a small, new growth starting, so we'll see. All of mine are in an east-facing window, and I crack the window a bit in the winter. As the weather gets hotter, they will be put in the basement with lights - it'll be both cool & humid. Someone had also suggested to 'double pot' with sphag in the bottom of the outer pot to keep the root ball cooler..
Renee Jolley Hi just read your strategy. I received 2 cool growers and was considering the basement as summer came here in Portland, Oregon. Are you about the same latitute? First time with these guys and scared I'll they will die due to temperature or light.
I'm in NJ, so we get hot, humid nights in the summer. I'm around 40 lat, so you're a bit north @ 45. Check the light for your particular ones - mine all like shade, so I'll keep a check on the light - it will probably be one of the T8's as opposed to an LED panel. You could probably drape shade cloth over them if you feel the light is too bright..
Renee Jolley . I'm trying to put together a mini greenhouse. My basement has a lot of natural light, but isn't enough. Would you recommend T8 over LED panel or both. I'm in NJ and I want to be prepared for winter.
Hey Dani, love your channel and I have learnt a lot. With this masdevallia though, I think you've tried most of your methods, and they all revolve around inorganics. I have a suggestion. Put this orchid in sphagnum moss and in a clay pot. Stake it, and hope for the best. My reasoning is this. Clay, has great evaporative properties - DON'T use the low quality ones you've used before, have a last look at your garden centre and check it out. Boy I wish I could send you some of mine. Anyways, and yes, sphagnum. I personally hate the thing myself, and I live in the tropics, but I REALLY THINK it might be the one thing that won't have a reverse process of water -clay - root - -clay again. If you want to, we can discuss this, more, I'm not an expert or anything. I just think that this particular orchid can be saved if you think outside your inorganic box. PS, I use inorganics mostly myself, I know they are wonderful, but sometimes, especially with oncidiums, I have to mix in a bit of coconut choir myself.
Where do you buy good guality Moss in europe? I've tried just collecting it from the nature but it's guite laborous to get enough and I can't find it from the stores here...
nailpolishgirl orchidgarden the nursery from Polland, they have SpagMoss, the best one in the world I believe. I just ordered some :p everything else I used (Chiloe Moss) is inferior.
MissOrchidGirl ok share with us too, What you will do with them,my climate is absolutely similar with your climate,and because of the heat I am not buying zygopetlum,if you succeeded then might be I will try one,and they are expensive here,so no point of experimenting...
Very nice! I am just in the mode of collecting those cool growers. My environment is actually a lot more friendly to cool ones (zone 8) but still I was thinking pretty much the same setup. Now, have you watched wade’s orchids setup video? You might wanna check out. I think you subscribed hime too? He shows us good setup when your environment is hot.
Side note: Masdis don't have psb, so be careful not to cut the base of the stem ;) also, temp inside the pot went to 21 C.. wooow
MissOrchidGirl Do you have den.Polar fire ?Im thinking of sending u some of my keikis😊
Hi, thank you so much but I have one :D
I'm growing them myself and did kill a few, then learned even more that kept my current species alive and growing.
In general, Masdevallia orchids in the wild grow in rain forests at such high elevations that clouds constantly linger in the trees. This produces an abundance of moss. I've learned that these orchids do very well in 100% pearlite ( or 90% pearlite + 10% vermiculite) with a 1/4" layer of sphagnum moss on top simulating the moss on the surface of a tree.
When the moss is almost completely dry, water with distilled water. If your home climate is not naturally humid, they do best in a terrarium or mini-greenhouse. With a greenhouse, keep the air moving around them or else expect lots of black spots. If you are short on space, set the plant in a large glass jar big enough so the sides are well away from the plant and pot so that the leaves barely reach the opening above. Keep water at the bottom in gravel for humidity yet somehow keep the water away from the bottom of the pot.
If you try this and don't over or under water, you will notice that the Masdes root horizontally like mad and simultaneously send a few roots vertically. The majority of the roots will be found in the thin moss layer. WARNING: if you do 100% sphagnum moss and are not diligent on how wet the inside of the pot gets, you will rot out those roots in a hurry. If the moss layer is too thick and holds too much water for too long, good luck to you and your poor specimen. These guys are not the most popular or common collector orchid due to the sensitivity of their water and aeration needs. As far as i know, the next most difficult to grow are the Draculas.
As you can tell, I highly recommend using a combination of organic and inorganic. Pearlite and the way water evaporates from it aids in keeping the plants cooler than most other media including the clay balls. Moss in my dry region of southern Oregon makes a huge difference. Pearlite does not rot, ensures airflow and keeps Masdes colder.
Ohhhhh Danny, I just love when you do these types of videos. They are relaxing! Thanks a bunch.
It looked happier already by the end of the video!
Danny how is your masdevallia doing? Did it make it?
AOS is a good reference. I have one and another suggestion to keep it cooler is if you have a clip on little fan or a fan you can put it by then do this. The orchid center I buy my orchids the owner has a separate room with a lot of air circulation and the temps is a lot cooler. Another good person or resource is Sue Bottom. A lot of research and findings. Hope this helps you with the cooler growers because you know how “cool” they are to grow! Lol sorry couldn’t resist!
Haha good pun :p yes I agree, taking it slowly with the basics and hoping I don't fail again
MissOrchidGirl keep me updated because my cool growers are so moody! 😜 I honestly think when I try they are saying nah nah boo boo lol. Have a great day
I was just gonna suggest sphagnum moss before you said it :) i think the clay pot and sphagnum combination will work great in your environment
I hope so, otherwise I really am awful with cool growers :)))
Any updates on this one!? I’m curious if it’s thriving. Any more masdevallias in your collection?❤
Are you not going to put it inside a big plastic container with just a little water so it haves humidity all around her with evaporation?
Hi, I will keep the pot on a bigger dish yes, no need for a whole container, moss holds a ton of water ;) also, the clay pot provides the humidity, a container full of water gives very little due to surface tension.
Good luck with the Mas!
Interesting video Danni - thank you - I don't know if its possible for you but I was thinking why not keep the Masdevallia in the house in the airconditioning......just a thought - keep us updated on its evolution.
Hi, well because the AC is not on all the time, it's on more in the grow room :p
I think it should do well in that, so long as you always keep it moist. Maybe put a neon sign next to it that says "WATER ME" to remind you. 😜 I'm thinking I might try a zygo in semi hydro, but with small seramis mixed in, should be better for a terrestrial since the air pockets would be filled in, what do you think?
Hi Danny,
You should’ve stuck you hand in the plastic pot with sphagnum moss, and in the clay pot with sphagnum moss, and tell witch is colder by hand, and choose from there, or left it in the plastic pot with no drainage holes, and still with sphagnum moss, but then put another pot around the plastic pot and fill the second pot around it with ice cubes, if the plastic pot is colder.
Already knew the answer to that but if you want specifics, sh pots were around 25 degs, clay was at 21 :) the logic is: leca is not as porous. The idea was to make it functional as well, if I would depends on ice cubes it would have been a big hassle.
MissOrchidGirl true!
... but a 5 degrees c difference, that is amazing!! Was not expecting it :p
MissOrchidGirl true , that is unexpected.
Could you do a general care guide for Bletilla orchids? I just received a Bletilla Yokohama 'kate', which I suggest you get, it's beautiful, and I'd love to see one of your orchid guides on this type of orchid.
Hi, sorry I never owned one of them, so I don't know much :)
Well she be ok as you are good at looking after your orchids .And how on earth to you keep up with watering with 250 orchids danny .
hey Danni, I have a question that is completely unrelated to this video, but I have a Den. Aphyllum in my care, and it says that the aphyllum needs a winter rest. the problem i'm having is that i don't have winter. Is there any chance that just weaning the plant off water could help induce a dormancy period? i'm not really sure the plant will like it, but i saw a beautiful mass of flowering aphyllum near to where i live and i don't think that there was a dormancy period on it. thanks!!!
Hi! I purchased a Masdevallia orchid planted in kokedama and it's been with me for more than a year now doing very very well! Kokedama is a japanese technique where plants grow in tight balls of moss (with the appropiate substrate inside). I live in Spain, so, I have a dry and hot enviroment but this method seems to be working! Maybe you can give it a try!
Hi, if you visit the description you'll see my kokedama attempt ;) kokedama doesn't solve the temperature problem sadly, reason why it's not the best option for me with this orchid.
Heyo, I have just repotted my phalaenopsis about a week ago in just charcoal pieces. I didn't include any sphagnum moss because I'm scared that it'll cause some rotting. I keep my orchid in an air conditioned room because I can't keep them anywhere else.
Now onto the problem. I fully soak the pot in water but after a few hours the put returns to its dried out state. What do I do? :(
Hi, the only thing you can do is change the medium. Charcoal retains almost no water, it is used in very humid climates mainly :) or you can water every day and it will be ok as well.
Okay, thank you :)
Hi Danny. Caught this vid a day late. I just repot yesterday in moss also, but different reason. Repotting a phal for Mom on Mother’s Day bc Leca and bark don’t work for her, she only water every other week !! My phal had a lot of thick roots so I had to push in the moss holding the root ball upside down, and it with many buds, carefully !!! I also used a holy clay pot. Actually I had a second plant that I put in a netted pot, then clay pot for weight. The Leca on the bottom is good idea but the roots will stick to side of pot also ? Looking forward to your update on this guy. Oh I have a recuse phal ( from garbage pile ) in moss and it’s ain’t dead yet. Actually roots has hydrated and lookin good. Waiting for growth before adding bark and Leca before converting to all Leca. Good luck on your Masdi !!! 🤞🙈.
Always enjoy your videos. You handle orchid growing in such a scientific way. I learn a great deal from you. I'll look forward to seeing how this orchid develops. I only have one Masdevallia in my collection here in S. FL USA. I do have a question for you about my Chysis. It is a beautiful orchid, but I want to repot it. It is in sphagnum. I'm not a fan of using this medium. Do you know of any other medium I could use? I've read that tree fern would be suitable, but have no experience in using it at all. Thanks.
Hi, I have it in semi hydroponics and grows well. The idea is that it's a thirsty orchid, so any medium can do, if it is airy enough, but you have to keep up with watering. The more water retentive the setup is, the less frequent you'll have to water.
Thanks. This information definitely helps. I'll rewatch your video on your Chysis to see if I can learn anything more.
very very helpful video, do you think the fact that you are using sphagnum moss with clay pots help you in your floridian tropical environment ?
Congrats on 80k subscribers !!!!!!!!!! 😀
Thank you thank you! :D
Found this very interesting and informative! Do you physically document all these situations and if so do you have recommendations on doing this? I had to mini phals that went from seemingly happy healthy to rootless and nearly rootless. Now trying to save them.
If you mean if I write down the evolution? No, I cannot keep up with being that organized, luckily I have a good memory :p good luck with your Phal!
Good luck!
danny I just think that you should have potted the three divisions in three separate pots so if something happens to one the others will continue but I guess this will work too
Hi Danny, I have a masd. royal monarch, it’s been blooming, but the new leaves keep dying prematurely. Would you help figure out why?
Hi, well I would start with the culture and environment. Masdies like humid conditions, both air and medium, low fertilizer and cool temperatures. See if there is something you're not doing quite right first. Good luck!
MissOrchidGirl Thank you!
HELP please
what should i do if i have mold in my pot (semi hydro with a lycaste ciliata)...i alredy tried to boil the leca and i use hydrogenperoxide on the plant 2 times alredy! even thought it appeared again! please help me i don't know what i should do??
Manuels Plants If there is mold in the pot that means that something is decomposing, I would unpot and remove any dead roots. Also mold can indicate poor airflow, a fan in the room can help!
Ariel Christiansen i did that already 2 times (even cutting the dead roots)
i have 5 other pots with semi hydro but its only in the one pot?
the mold (brown grey color) comes again and again!!
Hey Dani where do you get your orchids from, my local nursery for plants only sell hybrid phals, please if you could tell me.
I have several Masds. Some are in clay pots with a fine bark/sphag/perlite mix, others are in net pots in plain sphag. I have 1 in Leca, so that one, I'll keep an eye on. She does have a small, new growth starting, so we'll see.
All of mine are in an east-facing window, and I crack the window a bit in the winter. As the weather gets hotter, they will be put in the basement with lights - it'll be both cool & humid.
Someone had also suggested to 'double pot' with sphag in the bottom of the outer pot to keep the root ball cooler..
Renee Jolley Hi just read your strategy. I received 2 cool growers and was considering the basement as summer came here in Portland, Oregon. Are you about the same latitute? First time with these guys and scared I'll they will die due to temperature or light.
I'm in NJ, so we get hot, humid nights in the summer. I'm around 40 lat, so you're a bit north @ 45. Check the light for your particular ones - mine all like shade, so I'll keep a check on the light - it will probably be one of the T8's as opposed to an LED panel. You could probably drape shade cloth over them if you feel the light is too bright..
Renee Jolley . I'm trying to put together a mini greenhouse. My basement has a lot of natural light, but isn't enough. Would you recommend T8 over LED panel or both. I'm in NJ and I want to be prepared for winter.
Hey Dani, love your channel and I have learnt a lot.
With this masdevallia though, I think you've tried most of your methods, and they all revolve around inorganics. I have a suggestion. Put this orchid in sphagnum moss and in a clay pot. Stake it, and hope for the best. My reasoning is this. Clay, has great evaporative properties - DON'T use the low quality ones you've used before, have a last look at your garden centre and check it out. Boy I wish I could send you some of mine. Anyways, and yes, sphagnum. I personally hate the thing myself, and I live in the tropics, but I REALLY THINK it might be the one thing that won't have a reverse process of water -clay - root - -clay again. If you want to, we can discuss this, more, I'm not an expert or anything. I just think that this particular orchid can be saved if you think outside your inorganic box.
PS, I use inorganics mostly myself, I know they are wonderful, but sometimes, especially with oncidiums, I have to mix in a bit of coconut choir myself.
Oh wait, I watched it to the end. Hahah never mind
Great minds think alike
Tststs always watch until the end :))) well if this fails too.. I'll try something else :p
Where do you buy good guality Moss in europe? I've tried just collecting it from the nature but it's guite laborous to get enough and I can't find it from the stores here...
nailpolishgirl orchidgarden the nursery from Polland, they have SpagMoss, the best one in the world I believe. I just ordered some :p everything else I used (Chiloe Moss) is inferior.
I have masdevalias in semi hydro and they are doing excellent. The only difference is mine are in an air-conditioned room :/.
Why you don't put your zygopetlum in this setup....I think they like it..
Hi, I think so too, but I am testing something else with that orchid ;)
MissOrchidGirl ok share with us too,
What you will do with them,my climate is absolutely similar with your climate,and because of the heat I am not buying zygopetlum,if you succeeded then might be I will try one,and they are expensive here,so no point of experimenting...
Very nice! I am just in the mode of collecting those cool growers. My environment is actually a lot more friendly to cool ones (zone 8) but still I was thinking pretty much the same setup. Now, have you watched wade’s orchids setup video? You might wanna check out. I think you subscribed hime too? He shows us good setup when your environment is hot.
Add seremis back with leca, leca itself might be too dry.
I think we watched different videos :)))))
😍💞😘👍