Masdevallia – orchid

Description

Masdevallia – There are about 340 species of evergreen, epiphytic, terrestrial, or lithophytic orchids, in this genus. They occur in cloud forest at 2,600-13.700′ feet high from Mexico to central and South America. They lack pseudobulbs but have short, erect stems, each supporting a single, oblong to ovate or linear to lance shaped, curved or upright, rigid, fleshy leaf. Flowers are to 2 ½” wide carried singly or in racemes, among or usually above the foliage, mostly from winter to spring, some bloom continuously. Enlarged, often long-tailed sepals surround the minute petals and lips, giving the flowers a triangular shape. Cool growing orchids (see chart below). Grow in small pots of fine grade bark. Provide full light and ample ventilation. In summer, provide moist shade, water freely, feed at every third watering, and mist once or twice daily. In winter, water more sparingly, but do not allow to dry out. Prone to spider mites, aphids, mealybugs, and yellow bean virus.