CULTURE coccinea TEXT BY JOHN J. LEATHERS/PHOTOGRAPHS BY GREG ALLIKAS

THIS PAGE One of the more than 220 clones of grown by John Leathers in his greenhouse in Pacifica, California. OPPOSITE John Leathers (above) evaluates some flowers of line-bred Masd. coccinea (below).

752 ORCHIDS OCTOBER 2007 WWW.AOS.ORG Seeing a long bench of this rainbow-hued blooming at his northern California greenhouse no doubt that this expert grower has mastered the culture of this difficult

LIKE MANY HOBBYISTS, I discovered orchids by accident. In 1975, I purchased my first home, a 1918 wood-shingle craftsman home in Berkeley, California. This house came with a historical iron-and-glass solarium built onto the rear. Wanting to decorate the solarium, I made a foray to the University of California at Berkeley Botanic Garden’s spring sale. One plant purchased was a hanging basket of Stanhopea warscewicziana, probably not the most common orchid for a beginner. Within a few months it bloomed with overwhelming fragrance. That orchid, because of its bizarre pendent flower, affectionately became known as “the dead chicken orchid.” I became a committed orchidist. As a result of joining local orchid societies, I met growers whose specific interest was cool-growing species.

WWW.AOS.ORG OCTOBER 2007 ORCHIDS 753 Given the temperate climate of Berkeley, nights can drop near freezing. located across the bay from San Masdevallia coccinea can tolerate Francisco, I decided to try a number of such extremes but does not do well if Andean species outdoors, in a shade they persist for long. Like most orchids, house. Masdevallia coccinea, with its of Masd. coccinea cannot dazzling colors and impressive displays survive a freeze. of flowers held well above the foliage Humidity Ideal humidity should be became my passion. For the past 30 in the 40 to 70 percent range. years I have been collecting clones of Excessively dry air will result in - this species. With kind assistance from tip burn while excessively humid notable cool-growers such as the late conditions retard growth. Gary Baker of Seattle, Washington, Bob Light The plants require diffuse or Hoffmann and Harold Ripley of San filtered light of moderate in intensity Francisco and more recently as a result (800 to 1,500 foot-candles). Avoid direct of the superb line-breeding of Theresa sunlight. Hill of Hillsview Orchids in Mulino, Watering Growers should aim for Oregon, I have built a Masd. coccinea moist but not wet conditions. Plants collection of more than 220 clones. should never be allowed to completely The Colombian orchid Masdevallia dry out; however, it is important not to coccinea, colloquially known as “La keep the substrate too wet. A good way Banderita” or the little flag, was to tell when to water is to lift the pot described in the mid 19th Century by and feel its weight. Pushing one index Linden and popularized by the English finger into the substrate at the edge of firm of Veitch. The botanical Latin term the pot helps gauge dryness. When “coccinea” refers to a bright, deep red grown outside the moist atmosphere of color. Masdevallia coccinea is found a greenhouse, plants benefit from the from an elevation ranging from 8,000 humidity resulting from placing them to 11,000 feet (2,500 to 3,400 m) in moist above a pan or plate of water using areas of the cloud forest in moderate gravel, rocks or a screen to keep their shade. Importations from different container out of the water. Masdevallia elevations yield a palette of colors, with coccinea does not have a significant white and light forms coming from the rest period and requires water higher elevations and darker forms from throughout the year; however, water the lowest. Early collectors describe should be reduced in the winter. seeing Masd. coccinea blooming as Fertilizing These plants are light masses of flowers in dazzling brilliancy, feeders but require good-quality water. with an astonishing variety of colors A balanced orchid fertilizer, applied at from deep rich crimson-purple, through every other watering, at the rate of ¼– magenta-crimson, crimson-scarlet, ½ teaspoon per gallon (1.2–2.4 ml per scarlet, red, orange, yellow and white. 3.8 L) works well. If you use a CULTURE I have grown Masd. conductivity meter aim for a value of the air spaces that benefit the plant. It coccinea in a greenhouse at my home ~400–500 uSiemens or about 250 ppm is important not to allow the plant to as well as a shared cooperative 3,400 (part per millions) total dissolved remain in medium that has broken square foot (315 sq m) greenhouse in solids. Pots should be flushed with down. Such medium kills roots by Pacifica, California, located 5 miles (8 water at each watering to prevent the restricting air and staying excessively km) south of San Francisco on the buildup of salts. moist. I repot annually. Pacific Coast. POTTING The growth habit of BLOOMING TIME The blooming Temperature Successful culture of Masd. coccinea is best accommodated season for Masd. coccinea March to Masd. coccinea requires moderate in pots slightly taller than wide. The July. Plants stay in flower for a month moist day temperatures with a sig- roots of this species are long and tend or more with most blooms opening nificant (10 F [-12 C] or more) drop in to push the plant up and away from about the same time. In good light, night temperatures. In a greenhouse, a the medium as the plant grows. It is a flowers are self-erect and do not need position near cool moist air such as a good idea to pot at least ¾ inch (2 cm) staking. Moving the plant after spikes swamp cooler or wet pad suits Masd. below the rim of the pot. Plants should have initiated may result in twisted coccinea. Good air movement is not be overpotted and, like many stems. It is important to use care in important; however, the air should not orchids, need both moisture and air at watering to prevent knocking over the be dry and warm. Ideally, a day their roots. My preference is for an stems. Masdevallia coccinea can be temperature of 70 F (21 C) and a night open mix such as sphagnum moss or a used as a cut flower, lasting a few days temperature of 50 F (10 C) suits Masd. bark mix (made of equal parts fine fir after cutting. Adding alcohol, such as coccinea. These plants will tolerate a bark and perlite). Both mixes should be 5 percent vodka, will make cut flowers wider temperature range. Summer days pre-wet before use. When using either last a bit longer. in my area, in spite of our temperate mix do not compress the substrate more PESTS AND DISEASE In my climate, can rise to the 90s F and winter than necessary as this will compress temperate conditions, the major pest

754 ORCHIDS OCTOBER 2007 WWW.AOS.ORG for Masd. coccinea is aphids. These ABOVE Masdevallia coccinea requires can be dealt with by softly wiping the moderate moist day temperatures with a buds and stems with a damp cloth. An significant (10 F or more) drop in night effective pesticide for aphids is Orthene, temperatures. Here, hundreds of plants applied at the rate of 1 tablespoon per crowd the benches in the author’s gallon (15 ml per 3.8 L). The greenhouse. Masdevallia is unusually susceptible among orchids to insect-borne virus. RIGHT John Leathers and Bob Hamilton Aphids can spread yellow-bean virus (right) view plants of Masd. coccinea at with symptoms of chloritic blotches. Hawk Hill Orchids in Pacifica, California. With no cure available, a plant showing signs of virus should be discarded. John J. Leathers is a consultant in the Cutting tools should be sterilized to printing industry focusing on print prevent the spread of virus. When flow management. John is a founding repotting, do not reuse medium and be member of The Pleurothallid Alliance sure to sterilize containers before using and has trekked in Mexico, Central them again. Additional pests are slugs America and the Andean countries of and snails. Be especially alert for bush- South America to document New snails. These small beasts wreak havoc World orchids. He is active in the by eating root tips. Because of my cool Orchid Society of California and the San conditions, insects such as mealybugs Francisco Orchid Society. 2439 Woolsey and spider mites are not a problem with Street, Berkeley, California 94705 (e- Masd. coccinea. mail [email protected]).

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