- Approximate light
- 800–1200 fc
- Day temperature
- 14–22 °C
- Relative humidity
- 70–90%
This is general guidance by genus. Species, hybrids, potting mix and your home conditions may call for different care. Check moisture and actual growth before following a schedule.
Light and position
Cool shade, never direct sun. Less light than a Paphiopedilum.
When and how to water
Always moist and cool, with very pure water. It has no pseudobulbs and no reserves.
Potting mix and container
Live sphagnum or very fine bark in a small, free-draining pot.
Feeding during growth
Almost nothing: an eighth of the dose once a month. Salts scorch its roots instantly.
When to repot
Yearly, into fresh sphagnum. Old, sour moss kills it.
Dormancy and seasonal changes
No rest. Summer is its challenge: it needs constant airflow and coolness.
Flowering and new growth
Single flowers on thin stems, two to four weeks, almost year round when the temperature allows. Nights below 15 °C and high humidity. Without cold there is no flower.
What to watch for
Cool-growing species can suffer in heat waves. Check temperature, shade and airflow: adding water alone does not fix an overly hot location.
A FloraFlor care guide based on its app library, with editorial revisions for the web. Sources and further reading: American Orchid Society · Orchid care. No affiliation or endorsement is implied.
Let your plant set the pace
Save your Masdevallia in FloraFlor, note when you watered it and record photos of its changes. Adjust reminders to your season and hemisphere, and log care after you have actually done it.
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