Fear of Fertilizing Masdies

[GardenTheater]

Given Masdies are sensitive about what's in their water, I am afraid to fertilize. I think I've fertilized mine once every 4 or 5 months with 1/4 tsp of Dynagrow 7-9-5 per gallon. My tap water is about 60 TDS. I think the ones outdoors are growing roots out of the pots into the mulch which is amended...so maybe they don't need anything. Also one of the outdoor ones has 3 buds. The one inside looks fine and bloomed...but I'd like to see more blooms. What fertilizer regimens work for you?

[euplusia]

Masdies are also sensitive, if the water is too clean without any ions over a longer period of time. You can easily give 100-300 mikroSiemens. Rainwater in the city is 30-45 mikroSiemens, so a bit of fertilizer is beneficial.

[ronaldhanko]

I use 12-1-1 (K-Lite) with added Calcium and Magnesium, a pinch in two gallons of water every other or every two out of three waterings.

[plantaholic]

So a quick question or maybe not so quick...I have a couple of masdies, one of which is fine but my Jelly Belly has had dry tips on the leaves which I thought was from the chemicals in the tap water. So, I switched to distilled. Still getting those brown tips. Put it outside this summer and fall (still out there) where it gets periodic watering from river water irrigation. It really seems to like it but I'm not sure about hanging on to river water over the winter. Any ideas of what to water the Jelly Belly with?

[GardenTheater]

Originally Posted by euplusia

Masdies are also sensitive, if the water is too clean without any ions over a longer period of time. You can easily give 100-300 mikroSiemens. Rainwater in the city is 30-45 mikroSiemens, so a bit of fertilizer is beneficial.

Thanks for the data. Looks like they'll like the fert! Our water gets piped in from the Sierra Nevada. It's mostly melted snow and pretty low in TDS.

---------- Post added at 10:29 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:25 AM ----------

Originally Posted by ronaldhanko

I use 12-1-1 (K-Lite) with added Calcium and Magnesium, a pinch in two gallons of water every other or every two out of three waterings.

Thanks Ron. Why do you think such a relatively high N works for you? It definitely gets yours to bloom.

---------- Post added at 10:30 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:29 AM ----------

Originally Posted by plantaholic

So a quick question or maybe not so quick...I have a couple of masdies, one of which is fine but my Jelly Belly has had dry tips on the leaves which I thought was from the chemicals in the tap water. So, I switched to distilled. Still getting those brown tips. Put it outside this summer and fall (still out there) where it gets periodic watering from river water irrigation. It really seems to like it but I'm not sure about hanging on to river water over the winter. Any ideas of what to water the Jelly Belly with?

Bump up to the expertd

[jeremyinsf]

I use k-lite on mine too, I just am careful to not over-do it. I've used KelpMax on them also and had good results. I'm fortune to have great water here in SF to start with.

---------- Post added at 10:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:43 AM ----------

Where in Northern California are you, Garden?

[Brooke]

I foliar feed my Masdies about once a week with whatever strength I am using. When I had to pour it in the pots I didn't fertilize very often but by spraying them they have come through the summer in much better shape.

Brooke

[plantaholic]

Garden Theater - what do you mean by bumpd to the expert?

[GardenTheater]

Originally Posted by jeremyinsf

I use k-lite on mine too, I just am careful to not over-do it. I've used KelpMax on them also and had good results. I'm fortune to have great water here in SF to start with.

---------- Post added at 10:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:43 AM ----------

Where in Northern California are you, Garden?

I'm on the Peninsula and have the wonderful Hetch Hetchy water too. I have greater temp fluctuations than SF and about 10 nights where temp goes to 32F or lower. Also get a few 90Fs. I use to live in Chicago and this seems mild to me.

---------- Post added at 08:06 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:03 AM ----------

Originally Posted by plantaholic

Garden Theater - what do you mean by bumpd to the expert?

I bumped it to call attention to members who know the answer. It's a loose definition of expert.

[jeremyinsf]

Originally Posted by plantaholic

So a quick question or maybe not so quick...I have a couple of masdies, one of which is fine but my Jelly Belly has had dry tips on the leaves which I thought was from the chemicals in the tap water. So, I switched to distilled. Still getting those brown tips. Put it outside this summer and fall (still out there) where it gets periodic watering from river water irrigation. It really seems to like it but I'm not sure about hanging on to river water over the winter. Any ideas of what to water the Jelly Belly with?

I'm not an expert either, but I've learned a fair bit this year about Masdevallia's. Brown tips are usually stress related. And some types are much, much more prone to it than others.

How root-bound is this plant, and what is it planted in?

If you are giving it good, clean water - I don't think water is the issue. But there could be several other issues.

Have you pulled the plant and looked at the condition of the roots?

---------- Post added at 08:24 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:20 AM ----------

Originally Posted by GardenTheater

I'm on the Peninsula and have the wonderful Hetch Hetchy water too. I have greater temp fluctuations than SF and about 10 nights where temp goes to 32F or lower. Also get a few 90Fs. I use to live in Chicago and this seems mild to me. [COLOR="Silver"]

Nice to meet another local Masdie grower! I'd possibly be interested in trading divisions sometime, if you are. Yes, love our water. 18 TDS last time I checked. What do you do with your plants on the really cold nights?