Masdevallia ayabacana was named after the Ayabaca Province in northwestern Peru. Its is a medium to large size epiphyte where it grows in the cloud forests at altitudes of 1200-1800 meters. I grow mine potted in EpiWeb substrate on the bottom of the cool vivarium, but it is quite tolerant to warmer temperatures as well. It boasts [...]
This is a small epiphyte from Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador where it grows along streams at altitudes between 400 and 1100 meters. Since it grows on pretty low altitudes it is also more tolerant to warmer temperatures and do well in intermediate culture. The small flowers are perhaps not as showy as some [...]
It was finally time to repot the little seedlings I bought from Ecuagenera in flasks at the orchid show in Gothenburg 2008. Since deflasking them I have grown them intermediate/warm in a small mini-greenhouse and communal pots with sphagnum moss. It is recommended you grow all small seedlings, even cool growers, a bit warmer [...]
I picked up this little gem from Ecuagenera at the Sofiero orchid show in May and it obviously did not object over the long journey from South America since it is already blooming. I just adore this little thing… the sepals remain fused together and the flowers look like some sort of an alien… a hungry alien. [...]
This is a miniature epiphyte from Peru and Ecuador where it grows at elevations of 1500 to 1900 meters. It is a fast growing caespitose species, which means that it forms dense tufts. I grow it mounted on EpiWeb in the cool vivarium at medium light levels. The plant is definitely best displayed mounted, when [...]
I have 2 large Masdevallia tovarensis and I decided to divide one now that it has finished blooming. I actually found these M. tovarensis at a flower shop about two years ago. They were not in bloom and on the werge to be discarded when I saw them, so I got them for really [...]
This little Masdevallia can be found in Colombia, Venezuela and possibly north-west Brazil at altitudes between 200 and 800 meters. I grow mine on the windowsill, medium light, intermediate temps and planted in sphagnum moss. I bought it from Orchids & More last summer and it is now blooming for the first time. The flowers [...]
I have two very nice Masdevallia tovarensis orchids. Both of which are in bud right now. One bud opened early in December and it was beautiful!! But the rest are just sitting there, waiting. Waiting for what!?! Every day go in there looking, hoping, waiting. But nothing.
I finally figured out that I think they [...]
This lovely little orchid is blooming now for the fist time. I really like the shape of the flowers and the slight sheer interior. Mine has quite a bit more yellow in the color than other pictures I have seen of this species. I bought another Masdevallia (M. rolfeana) at the same time from the [...]
There is something tragic, yet very graceful, when the orchid flower has done its time. It slowly begins to wilt and finally become a memory (or a mummy) of its former beauty. Yet it lingers, refusing to give up the right to exist, to remember its former grandeur. Sometimes I almost like this process [...]