masdevallia schroederiana S/H

[armin]

I found a small store in London... 30$ for 50 kg of Hydroton... or something like that.... they have everything... Vantage Hydroponics in London
Or... if you are in Canada you can talk to Kris... he would be able to help: The Orchid Shop - Home
Or...we can buy together a big bag of Hydroton and share... whatever you want guys...

[armin]

OK... here some pic with my experiments.... I hope you can see the new growths from...every plant...

[Tindomul]

30!!! I heard the Pound went up against the dollar, 2 dollars per pound. You paid 60 dollars for a bag of hydroton!!!

[armin]

I paid 28$ for 50kg.... and yes it was like that if you buy a 5kg bag it's 10$... the price is only if you buy a 50kg bag... otherwise is more expensive...
Let me know if you want some guys...I'll try to get even a better price...

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by armin

I paid 28$ for 50kg.... and yes it was like that if you buy a 5kg bag it's 10$... the price is only if you buy a 50kg bag... otherwise is more expensive...
Let me know if you want some guys...I'll try to get even a better price...

Hey Armin,
I'm not sure if I get the 50 litre bag or not, I'll check tommorow, but it's $30.00 a bag in Aussie dollars of course.

Do you separate your floaters from your sinkers?

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by armin

OK... here some pic with my experiments.... I hope you can see the new growths from...every plant...

Armin,
I attended an orchid growing workshop last weekend where a guy from a nursery in my State who specialises in Masdevallias gave several presentations on potting, media, [as well as crosses, primary hybrids etc].

Anyway I realised the mistakes I have made before with spagnum moss and potting/watering and repotted all but 4 of my Masdevallias back into sphagnum moss [with bark at the moment].

The four that I didn't repot into sphag were:
Harlequin x Pichincha- putting out fat new roots leaves look good.
My 2 polysticta [already had one in true semi-hydro that has put out a new shoot but higher up]
Copper Queen
and a big Sundancer x Yungasensis 'Bob' I divided and put the big division in SH [the other into sphag]

I made true SH pots out of plastic bottles [cutting the tops off and drilling two holes about an inch from the bottom]plus I boiled the hydroton and separated out the floaters.

The Copper Queen and Harlequin x Pichincha have much thicker leaves than the others and it looks like they have taken to being in hydroton with water wicking up from the bottom..

Tommorow I will take some photos

I did spend a long time using a wooden skewer carefully taking off the moss around & in amongst the plants that
I put back into SH.

I think if you leave too much moss it can stay permantly wet from the moisture wicking up and that leads to rot

I may end up repotting those in sphag back into true SH and I'm not sure if in the long time I will use SH or sphag. for all of them or both.

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by armin

OK... here some pic with my experiments.... I hope you can see the new growths from...every plant...

Armin,
the hydroton looks dry in the photo, don't know if it's too dry for the Masdevallia? Can you take a side on photo, showing the water level?

Did you pre-soak and separate out the floaters? I never used to do that, but I think it's a good idea to pre-soak or boil.

I'm going to boil and pre-soak a few buckets of it and cover them to use when I need.

Totally forgot, I pre-ordered and got a M schroederiana at the workshop .. it's in moss and for now I'm just going to leave it but if I divide it one of the divisions will definitely be going in SH!

[Shadow]

Originally Posted by daemondamian

Totally forgot, I pre-ordered and got a M schroederiana at the workshop .. it's in moss and for now I'm just going to leave it but if I divide it one of the divisions will definitely be going in SH!

Congratulations on your new addition to your collection!

[kavanaru]

Hi Guys, any update on how your Masdies are doing in S/H? Any success with blooming?

I just received a Masdevallia Amazone "Samantha" as extra in one order from my preferred vendor, and am considering of moving it to S/H...

[armin]

OK... reviewing this thread I was almost... about to..cry. I don't have the Massie anymore... it didn't went through the summer. I would never plant a massie in s/h... it was OK in cold season but later in the summer....a disaster...
But don't get me wrong, I'm not authorized to give you an advice on this, I'm just a beginer... maybe there is a secret to keep a massie in s/h and during summer...