Large Maxillaria tenuifolia

[stefpix]

Jeff what results did you have in SH?
did you repot back in traditional medium? any setbacks either way?

Well I live in an apt . not much space. SH keeps it less messy somehow and maybe if i need to go away a couple of weeks would provide longer lasting humidity.

seems good for cattleyas though. How do you grow your Maxillaria? i really like the look of the plant. came free with a free Brassia with pleated leaf... anyway I like tha Max more than the Brassia.

How long would it take for a division of 4 PB [3 on top one the other] and leafless backbulb to bloom?

[mspatt]

Sphag,huh? Well that kind of makes sense. A friend, who has hers mounted, insists that mine is larger because it is grown in a pot and can retain more moisture. But I'm leary of using sphagnum and will have to ask the seller (OS member) what he used...About the only thing I have in moss are my neos and a Br.'Little Stars' (not much growth and no flowers).

[Jeff9]

I'm not sure, i didn't really have any setbacks with s/h and its a great way of growing plants.

It's a number of factors why i don't like to use s/h

I think Leca looks hideous, i use lava rock for a few and i also grow in lava rock non s/h

I like to grow alot of my plants in baskets or nets like epi porpax, bulbos etc that grow over the edge of the pot so i usually choose for sphag or epi

I favour epi over sh so i grow alot of my stuff on epi branches or epiweb cubes in pots with some sphag, i got really healthy roots since i used epiweb.

I'm not really sure why i don't use S/H much i just prefer other ways of growing more, the way i see it you can grow orchids in any kind of medium aslong as you are able to provide good light, air and moisture it doesnt really matter where you grow.

I've grown some in the most weird things, like potted in cut-up scrub pads, water culture, rocks etc

It probably wont take very long to grow your Max. to fairly large size, from what i know from Tenuifolia is that they are fast growers if you can provide them what they need.

Some say they sulk for a while if theyre disturbed however mine has taken beatings and abusings and its still producing new growths and roots so i'm not sure if thats true.

Looks like the OP is growing his/her tenuifolia in Sphag aswell, could be wrong.

[Jeff9]

Originally Posted by mspatt

Sphag,huh? Well that kind of makes sense. A friend, who has hers mounted, insists that mine is larger because it is grown in a pot and can retain more moisture. But I'm leary of using sphagnum and will have to ask the seller (OS member) what he used...About the only thing I have in moss are my neos and a Br.'Little Stars' (not much growth and no flowers).

If you are afraid to use sphag i would suggest the following
Mix up the sphag with some perlite, foam or whatever or try finding alive sphag moss.
I grow all my plants, especially what i grow in sphag in transparent pots so the roots/sphag get light and i believe it makes it dry faster.
Make sure theres good air movent, use the right size pot for your plant (not too big) and make sure you dont overwater.

It really depends on the plant, some plants will rot away if you place them in too wet sphag from what i've experienced.
But i.e Bulbos love to grow in sphag (altough i repotted all my bulbos that were in sphag to epiweb, time will tell if i made the right choice )

[stefpix]

Doesnt the live sphag die with fertilizers? can't find it in NYC. have a tiny bit with a tiny Drosera I received as an exchange... but just 1" pot.

how fast does Sphag grow? any one for an exchange for some live sphag??

[Jeff9]

Depends, i have a few pots from growers that came in sphag that is alive.
I barely use any fert, if i use it its very diluted and i soak the plants so the top of the sphag isn't in contact with the fertilizer.

Im pretty bad when it comes to growing alive sphag as my conditions arent well enough for it (humidity/light i assume)
But epiweb+sphag works pretty well for me, and sphag will turn green after a while from what i experienced, mine doesnt start growing but it just turns green.

Sphag doesnt HAVE to be alive, but from what i heard living moss will allow more air to reach the roots.

Experiment with it is what i'd suggest. It all depends on your environment.

I wouldn't be surprised if Max. Tenuifolia did well in S/H aswell but you'd have to ask someone on OB that grows this plant in S/H

[Angurek]

Wow...that's quite a specimen. How long have you had it? From the looks of things, it would seem you've had it for several years now.

[greenbean]

It's getting bigger! Look out, Mauro! It might eat you!!!

Once again, I must bow to the amazingness of your Maxillaria.

I repotted mine into a sphag/chc mix in a clay pot. The roots really took off for a while, but it has been stalled for quite some time now. I don't think it likes the clay pot. I may move it to a plastic pot this spring, but I'll see how it does for a while longer. Part of the problem is that I brought it to school with me and it doesn't like the change in water (from slightly acidic well water with a lot of iron to slightly basic treated city water with a lot of calcium) or the lower humidity. But the alternative was to leave it at home with my parents, who would have practically put it in a dehydrator for all the watering they do! (or drowned it, when they DO water. so hard to find good help these days )

Oh well, it's going to be a few years before mine even starts to look like a real specimen. I'll enjoy yours until then, Mauro!

[stefpix]

Evan can't you buy a gallon of distilled water for 99 cents at Target or Walgreens? would last a while wth sphag... also maybe a dish with water and pebbles? sometimes put a small brick in a plastic container to do a humidity tray and the pot sitting on the brick. good also to make it more stable against accidents.

repotted mine in sphag - had 2 small new roots growing from older roots - but so far was stalled - think may need more water than i thought
what is the min size for a division to bloom? does it bloom a specific period of the year or can it be anytime?
stefano

[Rosim_in_BR]

Originally Posted by greenbean

It's getting bigger! Look out, Mauro! It might eat you!!!

I'm really affraid of falling inside that bush and never find the way out!!

Originally Posted by stefpix

does it bloom a specific period of the year or can it be anytime?
stefano

It is a spring bloomer, Stefano.