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Apr 4, 2020 7:05 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Gina
Florida (Zone 9a)
Tropical plant collector 40 years
Aroids Region: Florida Tropicals
...and in the past it has never worked out well. I want Masdevallia coccinea, lucernula and Masdevallia veitchiana. But they are all COLD growing. Temps well below even what I can do In a terrarium indoors.

Anyone growing these? Looking for guidance
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Apr 5, 2020 5:50 AM CST
Name: Big Bill
Livonia Michigan (Zone 6a)
If you need to relax, grow plants!!
Bee Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Orchids Region: Michigan Hostas Growing under artificial light
Echinacea Critters Allowed Cat Lover Butterflies Birds Region: United States of America
I tried 4 Masdevallias here in Michigan. All were intermediate growers. All 4 have failed miserably!! I killed them like a Professional!

I tried 3 Dracula's. All were more warmth tolerant as opposed to cool. They died even quicker. I learned my lesson.
I might have to use muffin fans, put a tent around the plant stands and close off the plant room and get the temperature down to a steady 55-60 before I would try again. 65-68, up to 72 is just too warm.
They need low light, below 58 degrees and humidity between 80/90%. Figure out how you can provide that 365/24/7 and then give them a try.

I just face facts, I can't grow them. I appreciate them but I can't grow them.
Orchid lecturer, teacher and judge. Retired Wildlife Biologist. Supervisor of a nature preserve up until I retired.
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Apr 5, 2020 5:55 AM CST
Name: Big Bill
Livonia Michigan (Zone 6a)
If you need to relax, grow plants!!
Bee Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Orchids Region: Michigan Hostas Growing under artificial light
Echinacea Critters Allowed Cat Lover Butterflies Birds Region: United States of America
I would love to be tall, dark and handsome while being filthy rich too.
I gave up on that idea just yesterday!!! Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing


I got poor, old and dumpy NAILED!!!
Might as well stick with what I know!!!
🤥🤫🤗
Orchid lecturer, teacher and judge. Retired Wildlife Biologist. Supervisor of a nature preserve up until I retired.
Last edited by BigBill Apr 5, 2020 5:55 AM Icon for preview
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Apr 5, 2020 6:28 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Gina
Florida (Zone 9a)
Tropical plant collector 40 years
Aroids Region: Florida Tropicals
Your advice is greatly appreciated. Yes, I tried and failed before with Masdies and Dracs. The funny thing is, the WINTER here would provide almost perfect conditions for these plants. An unheated greenhouse that could be heated during a freeze with a small heat source and fogged with a fogger would keep these guys totally happy from about late November-early December through about now. But the rest of the year they would struggle.

We keep the house at an almost constant 74-75F night and day year round. We are like the equator inside my house LOL.

I guess what is confusing me is, the orchids are being sold by Ecuagenera USA in Apopka. Do they not realize that Florida is the wrong climate for these? And most are not expensive....maybe $20-25.
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Apr 5, 2020 6:42 AM CST
Name: Big Bill
Livonia Michigan (Zone 6a)
If you need to relax, grow plants!!
Bee Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Orchids Region: Michigan Hostas Growing under artificial light
Echinacea Critters Allowed Cat Lover Butterflies Birds Region: United States of America
You just have to realize what Ecuagenera's main goal is!

#1 is to sell orchids and get money. A salesman will tell you whatever it is to make you take your wallet out. If they convince to spend money and if you kill something, they know that you'll be back for more.
They know darn well that your chances of being successful with cool loving orchids in Florida is slim to none. BUT that is EXACTLY what they are counting on. They
hope you won't give up and you'll keep buying and buying and buying
and buying.

Gina 74-75 is NOT remotely going to
cut it!!! You need 48-62 maximum. How are you going to get from 74 to 62 and lower.


The next time an orchid vendor shows a heart and is honest, might just be the first time!!!
Orchid lecturer, teacher and judge. Retired Wildlife Biologist. Supervisor of a nature preserve up until I retired.
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Apr 5, 2020 6:46 AM CST
Name: Big Bill
Livonia Michigan (Zone 6a)
If you need to relax, grow plants!!
Bee Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Orchids Region: Michigan Hostas Growing under artificial light
Echinacea Critters Allowed Cat Lover Butterflies Birds Region: United States of America
How is it good for Ecuagenera to sell you stuff that you can grow. Eventually you will fill up the greenhouse or Growing area. But if you fail a lot and keep coming back for more, that is better for their bottom line.


Ecuagenera wanted a foothold in America! They have it!
Orchid lecturer, teacher and judge. Retired Wildlife Biologist. Supervisor of a nature preserve up until I retired.
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Apr 5, 2020 6:56 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Gina
Florida (Zone 9a)
Tropical plant collector 40 years
Aroids Region: Florida Tropicals
Yes you are right. I just get bamboozled by those lovely photos of those little Masdie flowers *Blush*
What interests me is, how are THEY keeping them alive?
I have been to the physical location a few times now with my plant friend Mike and alone. The aroid house (and warm growing orchid and tropical plant house) is basically a huge shade house with a rigid roof and heavy fabric flap overlay that can be raised and lowered ad lib on the frame in winter. They have 2 big Modine heaters, one on each end, and keep that house at a minimum of 70-72 in winter.

But they have 2 other greenhouses, one is an orchid house that I have not been in, which I am wondering if they actually have to air condition?

You lived here, you know how Florida is....Apopka is in the heart of the grow house operations for nursery stock production and it does get pretty toasty there. But it gets even hotter here in Gainesville in the dog days of summer, because we are totally landlocked without the sea breezes that the Tampa/Orlando areas have. So in order for them to be successfully growing these they must be altering the climate in the orchid house.
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Apr 5, 2020 7:06 AM CST
Name: Big Bill
Livonia Michigan (Zone 6a)
If you need to relax, grow plants!!
Bee Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Orchids Region: Michigan Hostas Growing under artificial light
Echinacea Critters Allowed Cat Lover Butterflies Birds Region: United States of America
They rotate stock in and out, that's how! Do you think that they would ever let you see the ones that die or struggle? Of course not!!
Long term, their plants will struggle. It is common sense.

But when my brain tells me "no way stupid!!" I listen. My brain is a lot smarter then my eyes or my heart.

I understand that Apopka is a special
place! Granted. But it is not the Masdevallia Capitol of the world. Ecuador and more so Columbia are!! Think of Apopka as their "outlet" store. Are they going to sell more plants in South American or in the USA??? Where is there more money per capita, Ecuador or USA???
Gina, use your head girl!!!!
If I can quote Star Wars and Obi Wan, "Don't be seduced by the Dark Side Luke/Gina!!!"
Orchid lecturer, teacher and judge. Retired Wildlife Biologist. Supervisor of a nature preserve up until I retired.
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Apr 5, 2020 7:09 AM CST
Name: Alice
Flat Rock, NC (Zone 7a)
Birds Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Region: North Carolina Hydrangeas Hummingbirder Dog Lover
Container Gardener Charter ATP Member Garden Photography Butterflies Tropicals Ponds
Perhaps they are just bringing them in for a quick sell. They may not be growing them here in FL.

We sort of cross posted Bill. Same idea.....
Minds are like parachutes; they work better when they are open.
Last edited by ardesia Apr 5, 2020 7:10 AM Icon for preview
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Apr 5, 2020 7:28 AM CST
Name: Big Bill
Livonia Michigan (Zone 6a)
If you need to relax, grow plants!!
Bee Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Orchids Region: Michigan Hostas Growing under artificial light
Echinacea Critters Allowed Cat Lover Butterflies Birds Region: United States of America
Great minds think alike. What can I say?

I thought Michigan, cooler, underlights, heck let me give it a shot!!
I failed misersbly. Some died in six months, some are still here after 18 months but I had two spikes. Both aborted. Too warm and too dry.
Orchid lecturer, teacher and judge. Retired Wildlife Biologist. Supervisor of a nature preserve up until I retired.
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Apr 5, 2020 7:30 AM CST
Name: lindsey
wesley chapel, fl
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Orchids Photo Contest Winner 2021 Photo Contest Winner 2023
Ecuagenera got their Apopka greenhouse up and running in November ( I think it was). They haven't experienced Florida summer yet.
When I was considering what to buy to help fill in gaps for our clubs display at a show , I asked about the cultural needs of this cute Den. Cross

Thumb of 2020-04-05/sugarcane/dd418d

She swept her arms around and said " they all grow together !"


I have now found a local grower ( student judge Adlejohn) who has a lit refrigerated growing cabinet and is going to take it for me..

I suspect that they will change up their Apopka inventory soon to better match the climate there.
Thumb of 2020-04-05/sugarcane/aad37b
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Apr 5, 2020 7:32 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Gina
Florida (Zone 9a)
Tropical plant collector 40 years
Aroids Region: Florida Tropicals
Is that a Cuthbertsonii cross? I have always eyed those on the Andy's Orchids website and never bit due to the same reason....cold growing. But they are just so COOL! (no pun intended)
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Last edited by Gina1960 Apr 5, 2020 7:32 AM Icon for preview
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Apr 5, 2020 7:56 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Ursula
Fair Lawn NJ, zone 7a
Orchids Plumerias Cactus and Succulents Region: New Jersey Region: Pennsylvania Native Plants and Wildflowers
Greenhouse Ponds Keeper of Koi Forum moderator Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Adeniums
I quit growing Pleurothallids/ or any other cold growers pretty much years ago, I can grow them fine inside during the Winter, but our NJ Summers just kill them. Sometimes I can hang on to them for a year or two, only to see them get fried eventually.
Masdevallia veitchiana grows at the foot of Machu Picchu. ( It was at the famous Pueblo Hotel Garden) I remember the day, temps in the fifties F and a good rain shower. Temperatures can go into the forties.

Thumb of 2020-04-05/Ursula/1817e6
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Apr 5, 2020 8:27 AM CST
Name: Glenn Graham
Memphis (Zone 7b)
Adeniums Region: Tennessee Plumerias Orchids Houseplants Growing under artificial light
Dog Lover Butterflies Birds Amaryllis Tropicals
sugarcane said:
I have now found a local grower ( student judge Adlejohn) who has a lit refrigerated growing cabinet and is going to take it for me..

I suspect that they will change up their Apopka inventory soon to better match the climate there.
Thumb of 2020-04-05/sugarcane/aad37b


Hmm that looks like a Wine Cooler converted with a light on a timer..
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Apr 5, 2020 8:31 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Gina
Florida (Zone 9a)
Tropical plant collector 40 years
Aroids Region: Florida Tropicals
People are converting things like this into vivariums and terrariums as well. Pretty cool!
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Apr 5, 2020 8:40 AM CST
Name: Carol
Santa Ana, ca
Sunset zone 22, USDA zone 10 A.
Bookworm Charter ATP Member Region: California Hummingbirder Orchids Plant Identifier
Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
You have all spared me from trying Masdevallia again. I tried once. I usually go by the three strikes rule, but don't have room for experimenting any more.
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Apr 5, 2020 10:28 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Gina
Florida (Zone 9a)
Tropical plant collector 40 years
Aroids Region: Florida Tropicals
So I am not alone in my failure....interesting!
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Apr 5, 2020 10:48 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Gina
Florida (Zone 9a)
Tropical plant collector 40 years
Aroids Region: Florida Tropicals
I have been having great success with this little Lepanthes. It has bloomed its head off in the terrarium and put on new growth. This is L. tentaculata.

Thumb of 2020-04-05/Gina1960/12fead

I liked it so much I also got these for a different terrarium...
L. 'Sherry Bridgyham' (L. calodictyon x telipogoniflora)
Thumb of 2020-04-05/Gina1960/7b45b1

and L. tentaculata x calodictyon
Thumb of 2020-04-05/Gina1960/f9a3b3
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Apr 5, 2020 10:53 AM CST
Name: Big Bill
Livonia Michigan (Zone 6a)
If you need to relax, grow plants!!
Bee Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Orchids Region: Michigan Hostas Growing under artificial light
Echinacea Critters Allowed Cat Lover Butterflies Birds Region: United States of America
Gina,
The notches in my watering wand handles come mostly from Phalaenopsis over the years up until 7 years ago. At least 15-20% are from orchids that I should have stayed away from. Masdevallias and Dracula's included. And I'll have you know that at the first Greater New York Orchid Society Show back in 1981 at the Bronx Botanical Gardens I took both the first and third place ribbons for Dracula species!!! J & L Orchids took second place. Imagine that?
Orchid lecturer, teacher and judge. Retired Wildlife Biologist. Supervisor of a nature preserve up until I retired.
Last edited by BigBill Apr 5, 2020 10:55 AM Icon for preview
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