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Losing new growth on Masdevallia

11 years ago

Every time the new growth on my Ken Dole Masdevallia gets to be about 1 to 1 1/2 inches tall, it turns yellow and then dries up. (It also comes up looking like an accordian shape) The plant is in a south facing window. I mist daily and water 3 times a week. It is a VERY healthy looking plant and blooms frequently. It is transplanted every other year. I have a Jelly belly that is doing VERY well in the same window--lots of new growth. I thought for a while that I was over-watering, but talked to an expert here at our conservatory who said what I thought i already knew, that they "liked" lots of water and light! But he didn't have any clue as to why this is happening and suggested I try a forum. Any ideas? I know that this plant is of the thicker, "wide-leafed" variety and the Jelly belly is of the narrow, thin-leafed type. The window is over my kitchen sink.

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Comments (5)

auron22
11 years ago
I have no where the expertise to diagnose this issue, but, i can help provoke some thinking.

Are there any drafts? Even a window can make the air around it cold/hot.

Have you carefully inspected the leaves, especially the new growth and other possible plants in your home? Perhaps this is a pest problem.

Have you done some extensive online research on how to care for it? It's great you have a local orchid expert, but it never hurts to research, especially since you still do not know the problem.

Orchid care may vary depending on it's environment. If the soil is any different than what your local orchid expert has, it could be a watering issue, or the soil itself. Also, how long has it been since the orchid was repotted? A lot of orchid soil breaks down really quickly. Some orchids appretiate an annual repotting. If the soil is more than a couple years old, that could be an issue.

And of course, can you supply a photo of the leaf? Someone on here might be able to tell what it is just by looking at it.
Darlene (GreenCurls)
11 years ago
Maybe it is a water quality issue? I was having a similar problem with my Masdevallia, and changing to RO water helped.

My other thought is that it could be a temperature issue. A southern window can get kind of warm this time of year.
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Darlene (GreenCurls)
11 years ago
Maybe it is a water quality issue? I was having a similar problem with my Masdevallia, and changing to RO water really helped.

My other thought is that it could be a temperature issue. A southern window can get kind of warm this time of year. I am not familiar with the Ken Dole so I can not speak to its temperature needs.
terpguy
11 years ago
I've never grown masdies but I'd bet dollars to doughnuts it's a combination of low humidity and high temp. Ken dole is a primary hybrid containing coccinea, one of the more picky of the masdevallias with regards to adherence to standard masdie care. Wrinkled/pleated leaves in many orchids is usually a sign of insufficient humidity and I cannot tell you how many times I've seen plants grown too warm begin to yellow up. My gut reaction, absent direct experience, tells me this particular plant is less than ideal for a south facing windowsill. You might be better off with a more warmth tolerant masdie such as triangularis or Confetti
Leafhead
11 years ago
Try a NE exposure, Do you have a window in your bathroom? The humidity would be fantastic there.

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