Masdevallia

Genus Masdevallia

Masdevallia is one of the genera with the most species within the orchid family, with approximately 1,123 records according to KEW. 659 species have been recognized as valid names and 464 species as synonyms or invalid names.

The scientific name of the genus Masdevallia was given by H. Ruiz & J. Pavón in 1974 in honor of Mr. José Masdevall Terrades Llobet, a doctor and botanist at the court of Carlos III of Spain.

These species are distributed from Mexico to Brazil, with a greater presence in the Andean regions of Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru. They grow in habitats with different altitudinal ranges from 130 to 3800 meters above sea level. Generally, they are epiphytes, terrestrial, or lithophytes and prefer cloud forests and rainforests with high ambient humidity and good ventilation. Most species of Masdevallia grow in intermediate to cold climates.

At Ecuagenera, we have classified them as follows to optimize their development:

Cold Climate Masdevallias

These species grow in cloud forests, in temperatures ranging from 9°C to 18°C. The ambient humidity required for optimal growth ranges from approximately 70% to 80%, with shade regulated to 60%. Watering can be done twice a week, and it's essential to fertilize and provide excellent ventilation.

Intermediate Climate Masdevallias

In our nurseries, these are grown in temperatures ranging from 14°C to 26°C. These species develop more easily in an environment with excellent ambient humidity between 70% and 80%. Shade is crucial for optimal growth, and it's recommended to adjust it to 60%. Watering can be done twice a week, ensuring excellent ventilation and fertilization.

Warm Climate Masdevallias

Within the genus Masdevallia, some species come from warmer habitats, meaning lower altitudinal ranges. For optimal development, they should be cultivated in temperatures ranging from 20°C to 32°C, requiring ambient humidity between 80% and 90% and 60% shade. Watering should be done two to three times a week, depending on environmental conditions, with excellent ventilation and fertilization.

Cultivation Guidelines:

The suitable substrate for planting our Masdevallias is a mixture of 80% moss (Sphagnum) and 20% pumice or perlite. This last component allows better aeration to the root system, preventing rot risks. This growing medium lasts approximately seven months, after which it should be replaced.

Watering these species depends on their location. If our plants belong to a warm climate, they should be watered two to three times a week. If they belong to an intermediate or cold climate, watering should be once or twice a week. However, under any of the mentioned conditions, good air circulation is essential to ensure the root system achieves the required humidity, avoiding rot risks.

If we decide to grow them indoors, where there's not good air circulation, watering should be done once a week, as moisture in the root system will take longer to evaporate.

Creating good ambient humidity is essential, but it doesn't mean increasing watering. Instead, the intention is to create an environment similar to their natural habitat. It's recommended to place containers with water near the plants or grow Bromeliads among the orchids since they accumulate water in their leaves, creating excellent humidity for our orchids.

The best way to recognize if our plants need more or less watering is by daily checking the growing medium (substrate) to see if the humidity is adequate.

Light and Fertilization:

Light is crucial when talking about cultivating orchids, especially Masdevallias, which require around 40% light for optimal development. If placed indoors, they should be near a window to catch reflected sunlight.

Fertilization plays a vital role. When a plant leaves its natural habitat, it loses access to area nutrients. It's necessary to use balanced fertilizers containing Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. Concentrations vary depending on the plant's stage. For example:

- If our plants are in the growth stage or have passed the flowering stage, apply fertilizers with higher nitrogen concentration to stimulate new growth, ensuring the next flowering.
- After a considerable period post-flowering (about three to four months), especially when we observe the maturation of new shoots, apply fertilizers with higher phosphorus concentration to stimulate flowering.
- To improve the root system and sap circulation in leaves, use fertilizers with higher potassium concentration. This provides more vitality to the plant and should be applied when floral spikes begin to appear, helping flowers become stronger, more durable, and colorful.

Foliar fertilizers should be applied every 15 days, always in the morning before the sunlight intensifies, to avoid leaf burns. It's recommended to spray the plants with water 10 minutes before applying foliar fertilizers to stimulate the stomata for better absorption.

Reproduction of orchids is usually done in vitro, using seeds. If we want to reproduce them at home, it's done vegetatively, separating a piece with at least seven leaves from the root to plant in a new pot. It's advisable to do this after the flowering stage.

Plant Health Indicators:

Plants are living beings that can show different reactions to indicate the need or excess of elements within their cultivation. For example:

- Lack of watering produces dryness and weakness in leaves.
- Excessive watering, especially in tender shoots, turns them yellow, indicating rot beginnings.
- Excessive sunlight causes yellow leaves, sometimes leading to burns.
- Lack of light causes leaves to turn darker green with weak, fragile shoots prone to breakage.
- Exposure to extremely hot climates results in leaf burns, noticeable from the tip toward the center.
- If the substrate or growing medium has outlived its usefulness, plants show yellow shoots and root rot.
- If the plant shows no new growth, it's time to check the root system for pests like slugs, which feed on tender shoots and hinder growth.
- If the plant shows no flowers, it may not be receiving adequate fertilization. Observe plant reactions to act promptly and improve conditions.