I've got my "toe in the water"......Now what?

[mayres]

My plant arrived late this afternoon and when I arrived home my wife informed me that it was all unpacked and waiting for me in the spare bedroom (where the majority of my other orchids are now).
I took a quick look at it - Now what?
This is one of many genera that I have no experience with - what is the most common media for these? Any absolute DO's and DONT's?
PS - bananas are for Anton!

[kmarch]

Mayers, there are lots of good massie growers here on the forum who will be able to provide you with some good, practical advice. I have 3 but have had some struggles with them so I'll keep my mouth shut.

[Anton]

You'll keep Indianna !

[patticake]

I posted seperately about my growing conditions, but since I only have 5, I'm sure no expert. Here's the AOS link AOS | Masdevallia
Mine are growing well, so you can check what I wrote for mine, but there's others that have grown them a lot longer than I that can advise better than I can. Good luck, Mike!

[fred]

I know of alot of Masdie growers Mike that grow in sphagnum moss

I also know of growers that grow there masdie's in a fine bark mix.

myself I use sphagnum moss I keep the sphag moist at all times I never let the sphag dry out.
now that the weather is getting warmer here I soak my masdies once a week for about half an hour in rain water also lightly mist the sphag in between the soaking.
I also provide good air movement
my masdies are under 70% shade cloth.

one thing I don't do is use fertilizer on my masdevallias not with the use of sphagnum moss.

don't forget though I collect and use fresh sphagnum moss

[mayres]

Thanks all - I think I will end up going with fine bark since I'm most comfortable with that for many of my other plants and have it on hand - we'll see..........

[domresvanis]

Hi there .It could be a be a good idea to plant the 1/3 of the the top with spagnum moss and the 2/3 of the bottom with fine bark.
Good growing..