Questions on Masdvellia herradurae

[Bulbopedilum]

Hi, I saw a Masdvellia herradurae for sale, and checked on IOSPE, and it said that it grows at an altitude of 500 meters to 1200 meters. So before buying one (As it's somewhat expensive) I'll ask here:

- Is my climate suitable? Temps in the rainy season can get to 30C (But usually not, maybe usually around 28C) at day and maybe only drop to 25C at night, while in the dry season the temps are a bit lower, maybe 26C at day and they can drop to around 17C at night.

- Do they have a sort of dormancy period where they should be watered less?

- Any other information / tips I should know if I can grow one?

The other species available are M. tovarensis and M. cardiantha which are cold-growing (right?).

[estación seca]

I don't know. IOSPE lists it as warm to cold growing. That refers to night temperatures. Listing it that way suggests warm is commoner but it is also found down to cold. It is native to mountain ranges in Columbia and Ecuador. Those ranges get substantial day to night temperature swings.

You may have seen this on the home page of IOSPE. I added centigrade equivalents:

Cold = 2500 Meters and Up 50 F to 58 F night average (10-14C)

Cool = 1800 to 2500 Meters, 58 F to 66 F night average (14-19C)

Warm = 1000 meters to 1800 meters, 66 F to 75 F night average (19-24C)

Hot = Sea Level to 1000 Meters, 75 F to 85 F night average (24-30C).

[SaraJean]

I have no first hand experience but I have seen this on display at OS meetings and at shows. It’s one of the few Masdevallias that can grow in my climate without too much of a struggle (and we get quite a bit hotter than 30°C). Assuming, or course, it comes from one of the lower elevation populations. One of the people that grows this species just keeps it in a clay pot with sphagnum on a shaded porch for all but the coldest part of the year, and it handles our high day and night temps just fine. Ive never heard of it having any sort of a dormancy period

[Ray]

The stats from orchidculture.com, as presented in Orchid Wiz suggests a year-round, fairly stable temperature range of 15°C nights and 27° days.

[Bulbopedilum]

Thanks for the information all!
Looks like I won't be growing this one outside unfortunately.