Maxillaria tenuifolia abuse

[flexdc]

I have this Max. tenuifolia for a while. It is really a warm grower (I don't have room in my house for it) but will flower (though not well) after I left it outside in the cold all winter (temp down to upper 40s/50). I guess I am trying to kill it, though it proves to be very hardy. The second pic shows that the roots are sitting in nothing but an empty clay pot!

Andrew

[Pilot]

You're going to experience some jealousy aimed at you soon. Lol Manu on here have this orchid and it seems some struggle to get it to bloom.

It very well may be considered a warm grower, but I've heard of these things living outside year round, from temps I. The. 30s to highs above 100. Simply put, it's a wildly tough plant.

I'm growing mine in sh and outside now. I was growing it under lights but decided based on others experience I would summer it outside despite lows routinely in the 40s and 50s even in the summer (I live above 6500'). For now it's under a tree and will slowly be brought to full sun. It gets a blast of water several times a day to make sure it stays nice and moist.

[flexdc]

Ryan:
I didn't mean to make anybody jealous LOL. You never treasure those orchids when you don't have to pamper them LOL. If I winter this sucker indoors, it will put out 10 - 20 blooms. I just don't have room for it. I think I should divide and give some away. Actually I remember I did a few years ago and gave half of the plant away. It grew back the other half in ONE YEAR!
Andrew

[flexdc]

Also Ryan: My tenuifolia doesn't mind dry conditions. We are semi-desert here in LA and I only water once or may be twice a week. Plus as you can see the roots aren't surrounded by anything except for an empty clay pot. So I think it is a dry grower?
Andrew

[Bud]

Its not 'abuse'...its just neglect. Its a tenacious plant and it can withstand extreme temperatures...except frost. Thsi can survive the Los Angeles winter outdoors ...but you must water it at least once a week its dehydrated.
put some large coarse bark at least around the roots to let it maintain more humidity...
I dont know which part of LA you are...but in my experience when I was living downtown on Waring Av and N Gower St near Paramount studios while doing tv commercial and industrials...I was growing orchids outdoors for a year and a half hanging under a citrus tree that constantly bears fruit all year round...its very humid and frost was a couple of hours in the early mornings in winter and warms up just as soon as the sun is out...
but of course I still have to water them at least once a week
* My vandas have to be indoors in winter since they can only withstand 65F at night

[flexdc]

Hey Bud, frost sometimes occurs here, but it all depends on your micro climate. I have a big brick wall in my growing area absorbing sun during the day and emitting the stored heat at night, which is why I don't get frost. Btw, I live about 3 miles west of Paramount studios.

I plan on putting some LECA pellets around the roots to keep it warm. May also divide it.
Andrew

[Bud]

funny... but my fire escape is a south facing brick wall where I hang the vandas in the warmer months...it can store heat bigtime...I have to anchor it all with wires because the winds can be cruel... I am on the top floor

[camille1585]

Looks very nice, and I can't believe how it's thriving on neglect. I'm one of those people that just can't get the darn thing to bloom! It's in a south window, but until about 2 weeks ago there had been hardly any sun. Winter and spring were cloudy....

[nenella]

I'm like Camille...
It's doubled in size (looks like Bud's one in shape) But no flowers yet..

[camille1585]

How's your light levels Nenella? I've convinced that not enough light is the problem with mine, but mother nature just didn't cooperate. If the weather stays nice hopefully I'll get blooms in the summer.