Masd. BV Chacaltaya and a cooling pot from another century...

[andreaemilia]

Hi everyone
This year I dared the challenge of buying a few masdevallias. Of course I chose some more warmth tolerant like the bellavallias. As far as I know bellavallias are not yet officially registered, and were hybridized in Germany.
My first one Masd. BV Chacaltaya just opened its about 8 cm bloom. To keep them cool I used a cooling pot my mother used to plant seedlings in spring. Although this pot is new, the other one intended for Madevallia veitchiana is over 25 years old. The design is hundred of years old, watter can settle at the base of the pot and in the side pockets allowing constant evaporation and cooling of the pot. In the newer version the pot is cooler by 4-5 degrees than the environment, the older pot should cool down the media even more.
The first pics are of BV Chataltaya taken in the evening with flash light, the last one is taken in the morning by natural light and after my cats paid a visit and slightly damaged the flower.

[andreaemilia]

And here are some pics with the old cooling pot.

[catttan]

beautiful Masd. First time seeing that unique cooling pot. Thanks for sharing.

[zainal abidin]

Lovely.....can you explain how this cooling pot work very interesting? is it by adding small ice cubes in the pockets? just curious or allowing the movement of air?

[andreaemilia]

The pot is design so that watter stays in the bottom, and in the side pockets, about 1 cm deep. On the bottom I will place some ceramic pot shards from broken pots, than I will put a plastic net, than the sphagnum moos. the constant air flow through the pockets produces constant evaporation and cools the pot. This is a modified use adapted for moss and growing masdevallias. Originally when planting seedlings in rich soil, the pot is filled with soil, the seeds are placed on the surface. The pot is watered through the pockets, and the pot is put in a warm place so seeds could germinate. So the seedlings will have warmth outside, and constantly moist and ventilated soil in th pot. There exists another version of pot with a ceramic con inside the pot, in the middle of the bottom. I could not find it though.
I think putting ice in the side pockets in would be extreme.

[sciencegal]

I think what you have is a strawberry pot. Usually you grow additional plants from the strawberry runners in the lower areas. It can also be used to grow several different kinds of herbs. It is an interesting idea to adapt it to be a cooling pot.

[andreaemilia]

The pot can be used in many ways, and the design is centuries old, with changes mainly in how the clay is processed and the pot made on a pottery wheel or molded. Since here strawberries are not grown in pots, the farmers usually use this kind of pots for starting seedlings inside or in a solarium. I did see herbs grown in this kind of pot though and it looks good.
So far my bellavallias seem to like their pot.
I am anxious to get my Masd veitchianas to see how they like their 25 years old pot.