Max. uncata recently growing darker and harder

[whygreenberg]

I can't seem to find much here on the OB about people growing this particular sp. However, I suspect my problem is less species-specific, though I can't for the life of me figure out what cultural issue I may be dealing with.

I've had Max. uncata now since mid-Feb. mounted on cork. Fairly small but good sized blooming plant. Ever since I received it, it has been growing like gang-busters! It seems like every day I notice a new leaf+pBulb sprouting. Has not yet flowered under my care.

However, my problem is this. I'd say that in the last maybe two weeks or so, new leaves & pBulbs are growing in a much darker color, and for lack of a better word, are harder, perhaps drier. One new one actually snapped half-way down the pBulb. Not all the new growths are so bad tho. And the kicker is, it's growing conditions have really not changed at all. If anything, it may be getting an ever-so-slightly less direct hit from the fan.

Kinda stumped, and since this guy has been such a great grower for me...

Any thoughts are much appreciated from all you wise-ones here.

[addictedcountryman]

hmmmm....

[addictedcountryman]

pics please if possible.

[whygreenberg]

yessirree...only i had a difficult time really capturing what i'm seeing in the photos...





the photos make it all look brighter or lighter than in reality. also, they don't really capture the tactile difference in these growths being harder or more dense or dry or something.

i know the pics might not help much, but...any thoughts?

[nancy]

Hi Yvan -
My conditions are pretty dissimilar, but I find that this plant typically kind of waxes and wanes. It is in a constant state of growing and losing foliage. You will find that it occasionally looks almost plucked clean. My worst mistake with this was putting a half-tsp. of nutricote on it - it developed a nice bald patch (so that stuff *can* burn!).
I have noticed that even after a number of years, it has not really attached to the mount (a hunk of grapevine).
Somebody at a show had this plant growing on a terra cotta brick (no organic medium at all!), and the AOS judges were simply giddy over it.
It seems to almost always have a few flowers, but in fall and winter can be just covered with them. They are decidedly *not* impressive, though do have a sweet scent.
It does like to be watered daily, but I don't have any moss or other medium aside from the wood.
Regards - Nancy

[whygreenberg]

Thanks for the thoughts, Nancy. I have rarely come across anyone else growing this one.

It did have a couple blooms on it when I received it, so I know exactly what you mean about them not being impressive. However, I really love the foliage. And it does seem to be just constantly be growing. It's reassuring also to hear about yours not seeming to really "attach" to its mount, because I'd wondered about that as well. Perhaps I will not worry too much about the new inconsistencies in growth. How much light does yours get?

Yours, I must say, is mighty impressive!! Amazing. I will show your pictures to my little guy for inspiration.

[nancy]

Hi Yvan - come to think of it, I talked to the person with the plant on brick - he said it had not attached, either. Perhaps in the wild this would just grow on top of wherever it landed, and pieces break off to grow elsewhere.
South Louisiana, so everything gets pretty bright light; though I keep this hanging amongst bigger things, so it's not roasted. I would call it dappled bright. I agree, the form of the plant is really appealing.
Regards - Nancy