Questions about deflasked Masdevallias?

[bibliofloris]

It seems that Ecuagenera is coming to an orchid show I plan to attend (yay!), so I'm considering ordering my first flask and picking it up from them. I'm interested in their Masdevallias, and I've had pretty good luck with the adult plants I have.

I've read up on the basic deflasking & seedling care processes, but I've got a few questions for all of you who've actually done this, or have read more about it than I have:

Would you use bottom heat for Masdevallias? (I know that bottom heat can encourage root growth and is often recommended for paph and phal seedlings, but the flasks I'm looking at are cool-growing orchids, so my guess is no. What do you think?)

I'm looking at small species masdies and am planning to grow the adult plants mounted in terrariums (as I do some of the small masdies I have now). Should I try mounting some of the seedlings immediately, or grow them in compots until they're larger? (My seedlings will be living in an empty aquarium with a wire mesh lid for a while, possibly adding fans and/or a more solid cover if the humidity isn't holding or the air circulation isn't good enough. I can grow adult mounted tiny orchids in these conditions successfuly. I like the idea of starting the roots out where they'll stay, to minimize disturbance, but this still seems riskier than compots.)

I grow some tiny orchids mounted on the outside of tiny terra cotta pots with no drainage holes filled with water; the pots seep water and the plants seem to love it. I'm tempted to try it with a couple of the seedlings, too -- what do you think? (I find it easier to get the constant moisture/air circulation/not soggy balance right with this setup than with a standard mount or even with pots.)

I'm not planning to order a terribly rare or expensive flask, and I should have approximately 15 plants to experiment with. I do like to experiment, but I certainly don't want to kill more than I have to. So, thanks for any advice!

[koshki]

I don't know the answer to your questions, but I am soooo jealous about your getting masdies from Ecuagenera! I have been drooling over their website for months!

Which ones are you getting? They are a bunch I'd like, but I'm really interested in the ampullacea...there's a photo in one of my orchid books of a specimen sized plant in bloom, and I just love the look of it.

[bibliofloris]

Thanks, koshki! I'm really, really excited too -- they just happen to be attending the one orchid show I can make it to this year, and so I'm getting my first-ever flasks for my birthday! Hoorah! I see they'll be in Ohio a couple of times this year -- any chance you could manage it?

I'm looking at M. hirtzii and M. strobelii x glandulosa -- I think they'll both stay small enough that I can grow the adults in the same terrarium I'm going to set up for the flask babies... Pretty soon I'll be the only thing in the house not in a glass box, at this rate! That ampullacea is gorgeous too, though. Is the picture you mentioned in the Masdevallia book, or a different one?

Of course, there are way more that Ecuagenera has that I'd love, but money runs out sooner than later when orchids are involved. Oh, well -- maybe next year!

[koshki]

The photo is on page 162 of Miracle Gro Complete Guide to Orchids, which is kind of surprising, since it's not been too easy to find. I've only seen them for sale on Ecuagenera's site. But my book says they're good in moderate temperatures, so I think I should be able to give it the culture it needs.

Which show are you attending?

[bibliofloris]

The Oregon orchid Society Show in Portland -- I'm so excited!! Just ordered my two flasks, and trying to get ready now.

[bibliofloris]

Oh, no! Sounds like I should have ordered flasks at least a month before the show. What a shame! Posting here in case anyone else is planning a flask order to pick up from Ecuagenera at a show -- check earlier with them.

[Brooke]

Check the Ecuagenera website - they are making many trips to the States. They will ship to you from any show location. They give a pre-order date for each of the shows. I know the pre-order date for the Longwood show the last of March closed a couple of days ago but they will be somewhere in the States in April.

Brooke

[bibliofloris]

Thanks, Brooke. I had met the pre-order date on their website for the show I'm attending (it's the only one this year near me that they'll be at), but I didn't realize that's just for plants, not flasks; sounds like they need a full month for flask orders before a show.

I'll definitely check into getting them shipped from another show location, though -- I didn't know that!

[rcb]

Bibliofloris - if you really want a Masdie flask, you could try calling the well know Masdie growers in the US, and see if they sell their flasks. They are getting them from somewhere.

Ecuagenera is a great company, and I'm not saying they are not worth it, but it may be easier for you if you buy from within the US??

Just another suggestion.

[bibliofloris]

Thanks, rcb -- I hadn't thought of that, either.