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Species library › Masdevallia › Masdevallia elephanticeps
Orchids Little published: much of this is inferred from related species

Masdevallia elephanticeps

A large-flowered Masdevallia described in 1854 from the Andes of northeastern Colombia and adjacent Venezuela. Records are from very high elevations of about 2900–3500 m, on the Páramo de Jurisdicciones in Norte de Santander. It is a cold-growing orchid that needs cool days, cold nights and constant moisture.

Masdevallia elephanticeps
Photo: Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
At home, aim for
Day Cool-growingTargets in Plantistry
Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry
Humidity Humid airBand in Plantistry
Light ShadeDLI and PPFD in Plantistry
No rest periodGrows on trees (epiphyte)

Where it grows wild

High montane forest and forest edge below the páramo, on the Cerro de las Jurisdicciones above Ábrego. It is assumed to grow epiphytically or among moss, as other cold-growing Masdevallia do.

Labelled records are at 2900–3475 m.

ColombiaVenezuela

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates
✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it
✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light
✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it
✓ Substrate and airflow
✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, used under its Public domain licence, unmodified.