Masdevallia is a huge genera which contains many species with a wide diversity of flowers. They are all native to the Americas, the majority found at high altitudes in the coastal range of mountains in Brazil or in the Andes, and as far north as the rainforests of Mexico.

They are generally small, tufted plants without pseudobulbs and each season’s growth consists of a single leaf. Many growths are produced at a time and the result is a large tuft of pale or dark green leaves. Without a pseudobulb to sustain the plant during periods of drought, the leaves have become very thick and can store moisture in great quantities. This conserves the orchid for short periods without rain. In nature, these plants are often found on moss-covered tree branches, where their fine root system can grip and find enough moisture and nourishment to sustain the plant. They will be equally at home on mossy rocks or on the ground where the drainage suits them and the competition from other plants is not too great.

The flowers are borne on a single stem and can be solitary or numerous. The sepals are the largest and most dominant part of the bloom, with the petals and labellum so diminutive that they are hardly noticeable. The edges of the sepals are often fused, giving the appearance of a triangular or kite-shaped flower. The colours are highly variable, from pure whites, yellows and browns, spotted and patterned, to brilliant oranges, purples and mauves.

There are many hundreds of species, most requiring no more than a small flower pot the size of a coffee cup; a great many plants can be accommodated in a small greenhouse. As they are high-altitude plants, they enjoy cool, moist conditions all year. It is as important to ensure that they do not overheat on a hot summer’s day as to make sure that they don’t get too cold on a severe winter’s night. In the wild, they are not subjected to long droughts so do not need resting periods.

Considerable hybridizing has been done within this group and there is plenty of scope for more. With many species to choose from, combined with their readiness to breed, the chances for hybridizing are great. Once the seedlings are established, they grow quickly and will bloom in a short time from sowing.

A large group of other genera are related to the masdevallias, including the draculas whose flowers are huge compared to the plant. Large, triangular blooms with long, thin, pointed tips are produced in sequence from the same stem, and although short-lived, they have a curious attraction with their lip structure.

Dryadella, a genus of small, compact orchids, is also closely related and has stemless flowers nestling around the base of the plant, giving it the common name of pheasant in the grass.

An even larger group than Masdevallia is Pleurothallis. Most of these plants have very small, insignificant blooms but are still worth growing by the amateur who likes to possess something different. These genera grow well together in a cool, well-shaded greenhouse.

Before you begin you should know that this should take you around an hour to do. So, if you are considering taking some pots and painting them first to add even more color, you should paint them the day before so they will be dry when you need them. By the way you can make these vertical gardens as tall or as short as you want and you can make as many of them as you need. It’s also a great project the kids can help with.

Things you will need to make your vertical flower garden: Wooden pole or poles/dowels. Make sure they are at least an inch across because they need to hold up under the weight of the flower pots. You can find these at any home and garden center.

4 clay pots for each pole (the amount depends upon how many little vertical gardens you want to make). The hole in the bottom of the pots need to be bigger than the poles.

A minimum of 10 zip ties, this is extremely important.

• Flowers of your choice.
• Good potting soil.

Paint if you are going to make the pots more colorful.

The instructions here are for a porch with a railing so the pots and poles can be secured. However you can do this on the side of your house or you can have a big pole and put it in the ground and build up from it. It’s all up to what effect you are looking for. You also can paint your pole or poles and zip ties to match the color of your pots.

Take your pole and measure and cut it to fit nice and snug under your railing if putting on a porch. You can do this by putting the poles between the slats of the porch if you don’t have any space in front of them.

Next take two zip ties and attach them very tightly to your pole or poles at the bottom around an inch up from the bottom of the pole. The ties need to be very tight so they don’t slip down the pole when the flower pot is resting on the ties. After you have them in place you can then take your first pot and push it down to where the zip ties are and then tilt the pot just slightly to your left. Don’t cut the ties yet, that’s done at the end. Don’t let the pot slip out of position before you get the dirt in it. It is easier to position things before the dirt.

Now put the soil in the first pot and then add your first flower. Make sure the soil is packed down tight around your flower. Make sure to put the flower in the soil at the same angle that the pot is tilted. You don’t want to plant it pointing straight up in the air.

Next you will put two more zip ties right above the first bottom pot. This first tie is going to anchor the lip of the bottom pot and the second zip tie will anchor the next pot you put on the pole. Now you are ready to add the next pot and make sure that it rests on your highest zip tie and then tilt this pot in the opposite direction of your first pot. This one isn’t going to be as sturdy as the first one until you get your soil in so hold it in place. It’s a good idea to ask someone to help if you think you need help while you are filling it with soil. Once you’ve done this you can put in the next flower and continue on up the pole adding more pots, soil and flowers to whatever height you have chosen, alternating each pot as you go along.

Once you have finished adding all the pots and flowers that you want on your pole or poles you can then cut all the ties on the pole so they don’t stick out because this would be unattractive. Put a little bit of wood glue for extra support on each tie if you feel more secure about it.

Now that spring is here and you are ready to go out and do some gardening, here is a way you can go out and kind of spruce up some of your outdoor space with a really cute vertical flower garden that is put on wooden poles or dowels. This is a really neat way in which you can add some great floral accents to your garden area without using a bunch of space with those big pots or big flower boxes. This is a great way to utilize small spaces as well. This technique can be used well for even a small front or back porch where you don’t have much space but what to have a little bit of a garden. Before you begin you should know that this should take you around an hour to do. So, if you are considering taking some pots and painting them first to add even more color, you should paint them the day before so they will be dry when you need them. By the way you can make these vertical gardens as tall or as short as you want and you can make as many of them as you need. It’s also a great project the kids can help with. Things you will need to make your vertical flower garden:

The instructions here are for a porch with a railing so the pots and poles can be secured. However you can do this on the side of your house or you can have a big pole and put it in the ground and build up from it. It’s all up to what effect you are looking for. You also can paint your pole or poles and zip ties to match the color of your pots.

Take your pole and measure and cut it to fit nice and snug under your railing if putting on a porch. You can do this by putting the poles between the slats of the porch if you don’t have any space in front of them.

Next take two zip ties and attach them very tightly to your pole or poles at the bottom around an inch up from the bottom of the pole. The ties need to be very tight so they don’t slip down the pole when the flower pot is resting on the ties. After you have them in place you can then take your first pot and push it down to where the zip ties are and then tilt the pot just slightly to your left. Don’t cut the ties yet, that’s done at the end. Don’t let the pot slip out of position before you get the dirt in it. It is easier to position things before the dirt.

Now put the soil in the first pot and then add your first flower. Make sure the soil is packed down tight around your flower. Make sure to put the flower in the soil at the same angle that the pot is tilted. You don’t want to plant it pointing straight up in the air.

Next you will put two more zip ties right above the first bottom pot. This first tie is going to anchor the lip of the bottom pot and the second zip tie will anchor the next pot you put on the pole. Now you are ready to add the next pot and make sure that it rests on your highest zip tie and then tilt this pot in the opposite direction of your first pot. This one isn’t going to be as sturdy as the first one until you get your soil in so hold it in place. It’s a good idea to ask someone to help if you think you need help while you are filling it with soil. Once you’ve done this you can put in the next flower and continue on up the pole adding more pots, soil and flowers to whatever height you have chosen, alternating each pot as you go along.

Once you have finished adding all the pots and flowers that you want on your pole or poles you can then cut all the ties on the pole so they don’t stick out because this would be unattractive. Put a little bit of wood glue for extra support on each tie if you feel more secure about it.