...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

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.

I would love to be tall, dark and handsome while being filthy rich too.
I gave up on that idea just yesterday!!!


I got poor, old and dumpy NAILED!!!
Might as well stick with what I know!!!
🤥🤫🤗

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.

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!!!

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!

Yes you are right. I just get bamboozled by those lovely photos of those little Masdie flowers
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.

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!!!"

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.....

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.

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



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.

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)

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.

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.

Hmm that looks like a Wine Cooler converted with a light on a timer..

People are converting things like this into vivariums and terrariums as well. Pretty cool!

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.

So I am not alone in my failure....interesting!

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.



I liked it so much I also got these for a different terrarium...
L. 'Sherry Bridgyham' (L. calodictyon x telipogoniflora)


and L. tentaculata x calodictyon

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?