ORCHID SPECIES CULTURE
Charles and Margaret Baker

Masdevallia strobelii Sweet and Garay

AKA: N/A. 

ORIGIN/HABITAT: Ecuador. Plants have been found in only one cloudforest
area in one remote valley in southeast Ecuador between Loja and Zamora.
They grow in bright light in tree tops and on fence posts at about 4600
ft. (1400 m). 

CLIMATE: Station #84265, Loja, Ecuador, Lat. 4.0S, Long. 79.4W, at 4062
ft. (1238 m). Temperatures are calculated for an elevation of 4600 ft.
(1400 m), resulting in probable extremes of F (C) and F (C). 

N/HEMISPHERE    JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC
F AVG MAX        82   83   84   83   84   85   83   81   82   82   82   82
F AVG MIN        64   63   62   62   61   63   63   63   63   63   62   62
DIURNAL RANGE    18   20   22   21   23   22   20   18   19   19   20   20
RAIN/INCHES     0.2  0.2  0.1  1.3  0.7  0.5  0.9  1.7  1.4  2.1  1.0  0.2
HUMIDITY/%      N/A
BLOOM SEASON      *                                            *    *    *
DAYS CLR        N/A
RAIN/MM           5    5    3   33   18   13   23   43   36   53   25    5
C AVG MAX      27.8 28.3 28.9 28.3 28.9 29.4 28.3 27.2 27.8 27.8 27.8 27.8
C AVG MIN      17.8 17.3 16.8 16.8 16.2 17.3 17.3 17.3 17.3 17.3 16.8 16.8
DIURNAL RANGE  10.0 11.0 12.1 11.5 12.7 12.1 11.0  9.9 10.5 10.5 11.0 11.0
S/HEMISPHERE    JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC  JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN

Cultural Recommendations: 

LIGHT: 1200-2000 fc. Rather bright conditions are required. Light should
be filtered or diffused, and plants should not be exposed to direct sun.
Strong air movement should be provided at all times. 

TEMPERATURES: Throughout the year, days average 81-85F (27-29C), and
nights average 61-64F (16-18C), with a diurnal range of 18-23F (10-13C). 

HUMIDITY: Probably more than 80% year-round in the cloudforest habitat. 

WATER: Rainfall at the weather station is light throughout the year.
Moisture in the cloudforest habitat is much greater than indicated,
however, and additional moisture is available from heavy dew, fog and
mist. Cultivated plants should be kept evenly moist all year. They should
never be allowed to dry out completely. 

FERTILIZER: A balanced fertilizer mixed at 1/4-1/2 recommended strength
should be applied every 3-4 weeks if plants are grown in sphagnum moss,
tree-fern fiber, or osmunda. If grown in fir bark, the applications should
be made every 1-2 weeks. Many growers prefer to switch from the normal
balanced formula and make an application of high nitrogen fertilizer early
in the year when plants are actively growing. They may then make an
application of a high phosphate or "bloom booster" formula in late summer
or autumn in order to promote flowering. 

REST PERIOD: Growing conditions should be maintained all year. Water may
be reduced somewhat for cultivated plants in winter, especially those
grown in the darker, short-day conditions common in temperate latitudes.
They should never be allowed to dry out completely, however. Fertilizer
should also be reduced somewhat when light is low, days are short, or
water is reduced. 

GROWING MEDIA: Plants may be mounted on tree-fern or cork slabs if
humidity is high and plants are watered at least once daily in summer.
Several waterings a day may be necessary for mounted plants during very
hot, dry periods. Because most growers find it difficult to keep mounted
plants moist enough, they are usually grown in pots using an open, fast
draining medium which contains materials that retain some moisture such as
chopped sphagnum or perlite. Charcoal is often added to help keep the
medium open and prevent it from becoming sour. Most growers recommend that
plants be repotted every year. Repotting is usually done in late winter or
early spring, but it may be done anytime between autumn and spring that
does not interfere with flowering. 

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES: The bloom season shown in the climate table is based
on cultivation records. 

Plant and Flower Information:

PLANT SIZE AND TYPE: A small epiphyte that grows 2.4-3.5 in. (6-9 cm) tall
including the ramicaul at the base of each growth. These slender secondary
stems are 0.8-1.2 in. (2-3 cm) long and are enclosed by 2-3 loose tubular
sheaths. 

LEAVES: 1.6-2.4 in. (4-6 cm) long including a 0.4-0.8 in. (1-2 cm)
petiole. A single erect, elliptical, leathery leaf is carried on each
growth. 

INFLORESCENCE: 1.2-1.8 in. (3.0-4.5 cm) long. The slender, suberect to
horizontal peduncle emerges from a node low on the secondary stem. More
than one flowering stem can be produced by each growth. 

FLOWERS: 1 per inflorescence. Plants often make many new growths and carry
a profusion of flowers, however. The sepals are white but are intensely
suffused with bright orange on the basal half. Their upper halves are
densely covered with small glandular areas which in turn are covered with
small hairs. The dorsal sepal is about 0.6 in. (1.6 cm) long and is
connected to the lateral sepals for almost its entire length forming a
cylindrical sepaline tube. The free tip portion is abruptly contracted
into a slender, erect, yellow-orange tail which is 1.2-1.6 in. (3-4 cm)
long. The lateral sepals are slightly longer than the dorsal sepal and are
connected to each other for most of their length forming an egg-shaped
area about 0.7 in. (1.8 cm) long and 0.8 in. (2.0 cm) wide. The rounded
tips of the lateral sepals are also abruptly contracted into yellow-orange
tails 1.2-1.6 in.(3-4 cm) long. The small, oblong petals are
yellow-orange, the lip is white, and the column is yellow-white. 

HYBRIDIZING NOTES: N/A. 

REFERENCES: 

Hamilton, R. 1990. Flowering months of orchid species under cultivation.
Orchid Biology Reviews and Perspectives, V. J. Arditti, ed. Timber Press,
Portland, Or. 

Index Kewensis. [1974] 1983. Supplement XV (1966-1970). Plantarum
Phanerogameram. An enumeration of the genera and species of flowering
plants. Oxford University Press, Amen House, London E. C. 4. Reprint by
Otto Koeltz Science Publishers, D-6240 Koenigstein/West Germany.

Luer, C. 1983. Thesaurus Masdevalliarum. Part 1. A monograph of the genus
Masdevallia. Verlag Helga Königer Buchersand, Von-Erckert str. 36, 8000
Munich 82, Germany.

Pridgeon, A. ed. 1992. The illustrated encyclopedia of orchids. Timber
Press, Portland, OR. 

Skittrell, S. 1994. Masdevallias. S. and G. S. c/o Pleurothallid Alliance.

PHOTOS/DRAWINGS: 

Luer, C. 1983. Thesaurus Masdevalliarum. Part 1. A monograph of the genus
Masdevallia. Verlag Helga Königer Buchersand, Von-Erckert str. 36, 8000
Munich 82, Germany.

Pridgeon, A. ed. 1992. The illustrated encyclopedia of orchids. Timber
Press, Portland, OR. 


Copyright 1997, Charles O. Baker and Margaret L. Baker
Sheet version 8077220

.........................................................................
Please remember that this sheet is for your use only, and though it was
provided free of charge, it may not be reproduced or retransmitted in
any way without permission.
.........................................................................

__________________________________________________________________________
 "Orchid Species Culture" Charles & Margaret Baker, Portland, Oregon USA

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