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.
Masdevallia chontalensis
This distinctive Ecuadorian species produces elegant flowers with fused sepals forming a tubular structure and gracefully elongated sepaline tails ...
View full detailsMasdevallia chimboensis
This distinctive Ecuadorian species produces elegant flowers with fused sepals forming a tubular structure and gracefully elongated sepaline tails ...
View full detailsMasdevallia chasei
This distinctive Ecuadorian species produces elegant flowers with fused sepals forming a tubular structure and gracefully elongated sepaline tails ...
View full detailsMasdevallia chaetostoma
This distinctive Ecuadorian species produces elegant flowers with fused sepals forming a tubular structure adorned with fine hair-like projections,...
View full detailsMasdevallia cerastes
This distinctive Ecuadorian species produces unique flowers with fused sepals forming a tubular structure and curved, horn-like sepaline tails that...
View full detailsMasdevallia caudata 'Gigi'
5.0 / 5.0
1 Review
This exceptional selection of Masdevallia caudata produces distinctive flowers with exceptionally long, thread-like sepaline tails that can extend ...
View full detailsMasdevallia catapheres
This distinctive Ecuadorian species produces elegant flowers with fused sepals forming a tubular structure and prominent sepaline tails that create...
View full detailsMasdevallia carruthersiana
4.0 / 5.0
1 Review
This striking species produces distinctive flowers with broad, fused sepals forming a cup-like structure and prominent sepaline tails that create a...
View full detailsMasdevallia cardiantha
This charming Ecuadorian species produces distinctive heart-shaped flowers with fused sepals that create a unique cordate form, complemented by del...
View full detailsMasdevallia caloptera
This remarkable Ecuadorian species produces dramatic flowers with a distinctive velvety texture and elegant, elongated tails. The compact growth ha...
View full detailsMasdevallia calocalix
This striking Ecuadorian species produces distinctive tubular flowers with fused sepals forming an elegant cup-like structure, displaying vibrant o...
View full detailsMasdevallia calagrasalis
A distinctive Ecuadorian species producing flowers with elegant tubular structure and characteristic form. Compact plants bloom successively, makin...
View full detailsMasdevallia bulbophyllopsis
A Ecuadorian species featuring flowers with distinctive Bulbophyllum-like characteristics and unusual morphology. Compact plants bloom successively...
View full detailsMasdevallia bucculenta
A charming Ecuadorian species producing flowers with distinctive fleshy texture and characteristic tubular form. Compact plants bloom successively,...
View full detailsMasdevallia buccinator
A striking Peruvian species featuring large, trumpet-shaped flowers with vibrant coloration and distinctive tubular form. Successive blooms emerge ...
View full detailsMasdevallia brachyura
5.0 / 5.0
1 Review
A charming Ecuadorian species featuring flowers with short-tailed sepals and characteristic tubular form. Compact plants bloom successively, making...
View full detailsMasdevallia bonplandii
A charming Ecuadorian species producing flowers with elegant tubular structure and elongated sepals. Compact plants bloom successively, making this...
View full detailsMasdevallia bennettii
5.0 / 5.0
4 Reviews
A charming Peruvian species producing flowers with elegant tubular structure and distinctive form. Compact plants bloom successively, making this i...
View full detailsMasdevallia belua
A remarkable Ecuadorian species featuring large, dramatic flowers with distinctive tubular form and elongated sepals. Successive blooms emerge from...
View full detailsMasdevallia barrowii
A distinctive Ecuadorian species producing flowers with elegant tubular structure and characteristic form. Compact plants bloom successively, makin...
View full detailsMasdevallia bangii
A charming miniature species from Bolivia and Peru, producing delicate flowers with characteristic tubular form. The compact growth habit and succe...
View full detailsMasdevallia ayabacana
A striking orchid species featuring flowers with distinctive patterns and characteristic tubular form. Successive blooms emerge from compact plants...
View full detailsMasdevallia attenuata
An elegant Ecuadorian species producing flowers with slender, tapering sepals and refined tubular structure. Compact plants bloom successively, mak...
View full detailsMasdevallia asterotricha
5.0 / 5.0
2 Reviews
A unique Ecuadorian species featuring flowers with distinctive star-shaped hairs and characteristic tubular form. Successive blooms emerge from com...
View full detailsMasdevallia arangoi
A distinctive Ecuadorian species producing flowers with characteristic tubular structure and elongated sepals. Compact plants bloom successively, m...
View full detailsMasdevallia antonii 'Ecuagenera'
An exceptional selected clone of the Ecuadorian species, featuring flowers with elegant tubular form and elongated sepals. This 'Ecuagenera' select...
View full detailsMasdevallia antonii
5.0 / 5.0
2 Reviews
A striking Ecuadorian species featuring flowers with elegant tubular form and elongated sepals. Successive blooms emerge from compact plants, makin...
View full detailsMasdevallia angulata
5.0 / 5.0
3 Reviews
A distinctive Ecuadorian species featuring flowers with angular form and characteristic tubular structure. Successive blooms emerge from compact pl...
View full detailsMasdevallia anfracta
A distinctive Ecuadorian species producing flowers with unique twisted or sinuous form and characteristic tubular structure. The compact growth and...
View full detailsMasdevallia ametroglossa
5.0 / 5.0
1 Review
A distinctive Ecuadorian species that produces elegant flowers with characteristic tubular form and elongated sepals. The compact growth habit and ...
View full detailsMasdevallia amanda
A stunning Ecuadorian species that produces distinctive flowers with elongated sepals and elegant tubular form. The compact growth habit and succes...
View full detailsMasdevallia amaluzae
A distinctive Ecuadorian species that produces elegant flowers with elongated sepals and striking tubular form. The compact growth habit and succes...
View full detailsMasdevallia amabilis f. red
5.0 / 5.0
2 Reviews
A striking color form of this charming species, displaying intensely saturated flowers with the characteristic Masdevallia tubular structure. The t...
View full detailsMasdevallia amabilis f. alba
5.0 / 5.0
1 Review
A rare and highly sought-after alba form of this charming species, producing pristine white flowers with the characteristic Masdevallia tubular str...
View full detailsMasdevallia agaster
5.0 / 5.0
1 Review
This distinctive species produces striking flowers with unique characteristics and attractive coloration, making it a valuable addition to intermed...
View full detailsMasdevallia aenigma
This enigmatic species produces mysterious and captivating flowers with unique characteristics that make it a prized specimen for serious collector...
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