Masdevallia decumana

[Duane McDowell]

That would make me very happy. Thanks for the breakdown on the cross. I am growing in a greenhouse window which is now quite cool. My only worry is keeping it cool in the summer while keeping up the light.

Both parents of your cross are intermediate to warm-growing, so you don't need to worry too much about keeping them cool. They'll do ok cool, of course, but they don't need it! Just be sure it never dries out completely.

[Germinatorman]

Easy enough to give it more light - I am going to try that! Thanks Duane.

[Duane McDowell]

Easy enough to give it more light - I am going to try that! Thanks Duane.

When adjusting light - always a little at a time!

[cynccrn]

I am a newbie, but wanted to ask is your orchid the same as a Dracula? I only ask because I recently bought a Dracula from a grower in Hawaii and your orchid looks very similar to my Dracula:-)

[Duane McDowell]

I am a newbie, but wanted to ask is your orchid the same as a Dracula? I only ask because I recently bought a Dracula from a grower in Hawaii and your orchid looks very similar to my Dracula:-)

Draculas are very closely related to Masdevallias. They were moved to a different genus sometime in the late 1970s(?). Here's a description of the basic differences from The Official Website of The Pleurothallid Alliance, an outstanding resource:
"The genus Dracula (DRAK-yew-lah) contains some of the showier, more bizarre and well known members of the group. From the Latin Dracula, a little dragon, the fancied flowers look like mythical beasts. Over 100 species are found in Central America and the northwest Andes, almost half in Ecuador alone. Once included in the genus Masdevallia they have large, thin, keeled leaves and long tailed flowers with extraordinary hinged lips. The inflorescences often grow downward so potting in net or slat baskets is suggested for these plants. This genus can also handle the most watering; indeed, some growers even keep the pots in trays of water."

[cynccrn]

Duane, thanks so much for the information on my Dracula. I knew that they could be watered often, but now that I know they are sometimes kept in trays of water, I plan to water mine more often. Also, when you say they can be grown in slat baskets are you referring to say something like a Vanda basket? and if so then I assume they do not necessarily need to be kept in a potting medium; is that correct? Thanks much for your great information.

p.s. how often would you say I would need to fertilize my Dracula?