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Masdevallia unguentum is a miniature epiphytic orchid from Colombia, grown for its single, spicy-scented flowers. Cool, humid conditions with good air movement and bright shade are the key to growing it well.
Masdevallia unguentum was discovered in 2010 in the collection of Finca Dracula and is reported from Colombia. It is morphologically similar to Masdevallia marthae which was also discovered in cultivation without collection data but was later re-discovered in 1993 on the road to a television tower in the Department of Risaralda, Colombia Both are members of the subsection Saltatrices which is characterized by flowers with a tubular calyx.
The species can be cultivated like other intermediate to cool (day: 56–64 F; night: 48–56 F) growing masdevallias. They require high humidity (65–95%) with strong air movement to prevent bacterial and fungal infections. Light should be medium to bright shade (600–1400 footcandles). The plants should be reported before the medium breaks down in either a bark based mix or in sphagnum moss. They should be fertilized with a half-strength mixture of a balanced fertilizer once a month and a high nitrogen fertilizer can be used for single applications in the spring and fall.
The plants can be propagated by division or sexually. After pollination the capsule will require about 90 days to mature and the seeds can be grown under aseptic conditions using G & B Orchid Laboratories' Mother Flask Medium V with charcoal or Phytamax Orchid Maintenance Medium. Seedlings require high humidity and should be fertilized every two weeks and may produce their first flowers in 1 to 4 years.
Masdevallia agaster · Masdevallia angulifera · Masdevallia barlaeana · Masdevallia bicolor · Masdevallia bulbophyllopsis · Masdevallia caudata · Masdevallia civilis · Scarlet Masdevallia · Masdevallia constricta · Davis' Masdevallia · Masdevallia decumana · Masdevallia elephanticeps
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Masdevallia unguentum by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
Pet safety from the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant lists.
