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Species library › Masdevallia › Masdevallia rolfeana
Orchids Well documented

Masdevallia rolfeana

Masdevallia rolfeana is a Costa Rican endemic of cloud forest, described by Kraenzlin in 1891. GBIF records place it at 1100–2250 m, mostly around 1700–1950 m in the central volcanic ranges. Like other cloud-forest Masdevallia it wants cool nights, constant moisture and moving air.

Masdevallia rolfeana
Photo: CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
At home, aim for
Day IntermediateTargets 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

The records come from montane cloud forest in the central Costa Rican cordilleras. It is assumed to grow as a small epiphyte on mossy trunks and branches in shade, like related Masdevallia.

Recorded from 1110 m to 2250 m (median 1745 m, 38 records).

Costa Rica

🔒 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 CC BY 2.0 licence, unmodified.