Here is a photo from this year's blooming of Masdevallia floribunda, one of the few pleurothallids that can truly tolerate warm temperatures. I grow mine intermediate-warm in a wardian case.

For many years, this plant would not bloom for me, causing me to nickname it "flori-nada"...until I discovered the secret. It seems that my rock-stable intermediate temps were to its liking for growth, but it needed a coolish kick (temps down into the low 60s) to initiate blooming. Earlier this year, in an effort to save on air conditioning during late winter/early spring, I allowed the indoor temps to plummet to the low 60's, seting the A/C to cut on only if the temps went above 75 in the house. The result was a flock of floribunda flowers.

Ironically, another time it bloomed for me was early summer when we would cool the house with A/C down into the mid-60's so that during the hot daytime temps, it would still remain comfortable in the house.

I'm guessing that in nature, this variety would bloom in fall or winter when things cooled off a bit for it. In any case, enjoy!



---Prem