Masdevallia Dragon Gem

[Tindomul]

Hi all,

I have had this plant for some time. Two weeks ago I noticed it had to spikes and today the first of the two bloomed. This is my first success with any Masdies bearing the name ayabacana or ignea. It's my first plant with ignea in it period. The bloom seems to be a bit assymetrical (humidity issues) but I love the colours! I love the purple border.

The official name is Masdevallia ignea Mh. x Masdevallia ayabacana.
Anyone know what the Mh stands for?

Finally, if I could name it, I would name it Inca Red Star. Maybe.

[WhiteRabbit]

Ooo! Beautiful!

[Leafmite]

Spectacular!

[DeaC]

Just googled a bit and am thinking it's a misprinted label. Masdevallia Harryana popped up on some sites indicating the more orangy or fiery colors which you have. Maybe this helps? Your plant is fantastic,btw.

[rbarata]

Tindo, I'm always amazed by the photos you post.
I have a request...is it possible for you to post a photo of your setup where you grow them?
I can't grow them naturally due to high temps and low HR but, in Queens, I guess you don't have that possibility too.
So, I thought...maybe the solution is simple.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Well done. It's a beauty. My ignea bloomed last year now because of a very bad blunder on my part I am trying to save it. I have never seen this cross, where did you get it?

[Tindomul]

Hi guys! Thanks for the responses.

1) I got this cross from Ecuagenera, but the label is from Peruflora. Maybe Ecuagenera got it from Peruflora. Edit: I just looked it up on RHS Orchid Register. This hybrid has been registered under the name of Dragon Gem. You can find it here: http://www.ecuagenera.com/Masdevallia-Dragon-Gem/en

2) That is an odd mislabelling. I got to look into it too. Now I am very curious.

3) Thanks for liking the photo and flower. I feel that the flower is a bit assymetrical probably due to a few days of low humidity during the development of the bud. It does have a second bud which I hope develops better.


4) Attached are some pictures of my setup. It is in a small room. I have a misting system from Mist King. I have two humidifiers, wish I had more. It's a pain having to keep tabs on water levels, but it's better than hand watering them every single day.
The plants are potted in expanded clay balls in clay pots with 1-3 in plastic semi-hydro pots. I did drill holes in the clay pots, and siliconed shut the bottom drainage hole to make it like a semihydro system.
I put them all in planting trays.
I keep the air conditioner running on fan only in the witner and full blast in the summer. The room stays very cool all year.
Its a room with southern exposure, but the sun is too high in the sky in the summer months for direct light. However, in the winter, they get direct sun all day. That being said, the window is narrow enough that there are always some plants in the shade as the sun moves from east to west. The plants on the right get sun early and the middle plants are blasted during mid day, while the plants on the left get their dose of the sun in the afternoon.
The whole thing requires very little maintenance,
if I spend 20 minutes a week on it, it was a too much.

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[No-Pro-mwa]

Well it is working any way. I get you with the humidifier thing. I stopped using them as the last 2 I got didn't work either for very long or mostly not at all. The one I use for my Masdies I have had the longest and is still working.