Maxillaria tenuifolia - Orchid Board

Merlyn · #1 12-23-2011, 08:51 PM

This one surprised me for Christmas !! It's off schedule by 2 months !! It usually blooms February-March-April then May-June-July. I'm never complaining, just stating the facts ! It's in my top 10 list of favorites and I can never get enough of the fragrance !!! I thought it was a fluke until the 2nd bloom came out !!! Expect there will be more to follow !

Before it's mentioned, YES, I know = Maxillariella tenuifolia but I refuse to play musical names as long as synonyms are recognized !!!

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Call_Me_Bob · #2 12-23-2011, 09:09 PM

Great job!! What's your secret? I have one I got summer of 2010. It's a huge plant in a 5" pot with at lest 75 pseudobulbs not eve exaggerating. It's a healthy plant that send out multiple leads at a time. But I but can't get It to bloom!

Merlyn · #3 12-23-2011, 09:15 PM

I put it outside for the spring/summer/fall but I only started that last summer !! Might be why it bloomed early this time. Before last summer and during the winter it's under my T8 lights and I have learned to keep it in a saucer and leave plenty of water in it when I water or fertilize. I keep its feet wet more than most of my other chids ! I also spray the leaves and upper pbulbs when I water AND fertilize because there's actually more pbulbs up in the air than down in the media !!! I think that's the "trick" if there is one ! Making sure to water and fertilize the upper pbulbs !

HTH !!!

Call_Me_Bob · #4 12-23-2011, 11:49 PM

I put mine outside on the same schedule as well. Maybe it's too dry. Although the pseudobulbs aren't really shriveled. I keep it in moss. Maybe more light?

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #5 12-28-2011, 08:36 AM

This species can be stubborn.

jrodpad · #6 12-28-2011, 09:15 AM

She's a beauty. What a giant! Thanks for sharing.

-J

greenbean · #7 12-29-2011, 07:57 PM

One of my favorites, too.

Mine usually blooms around May, but I wouldn't complain to have it bloom now either! Love that smell!

Bob, like Merlyn I keep mine pretty wet. As soon as the sphag gets a little crispy on top I water it again and leave some water in the saucer. I also spray the top growth because there are roots growing down from each pseudobulb inside the dead brown bracts along the rhizomes. However, as you said you don't have shrivelled pbulbs, it could be something else, like light.