maxillarias, not blooming - Orchid Board

Sawdust · #1 03-07-2021, 01:25 PM

hello, I have 4 or 5 very nice Maxillaries, they seem to be very healthy and lots of growth, but for some reason they never seem to bloom. 2 are in and old aquarium and the others are in light table that I built, they both have LED lights and I water when the are a little if not all dry. Am i doing something wrong. Its been a couple of years since any bloomed. Other orchids in the same situation seem to be okay and have bloomed. any help is much apricated. Thanks

Roberta · #2 03-08-2021, 10:01 AM

Bump;

camille1585 · #3 03-08-2021, 10:23 AM

The plant in the photo is a Max picta, but what are the others? All picta, or a mix of species?

I don't have experience with any other than Max tenuifolia, which needs heavy watering while in active growth, and should dry out in the winter. It also needs a lot of light to flower (in the Netherlands, this means full sun all afternoon).

We used to have a member here who grew a lot of Maxies and could have probably given advice, but sadly she has disappeared from the forums...

estación seca · #4 03-08-2021, 11:20 AM

I only have tenuifolia, but my reading here suggests they almost all need to stay quite moist to very wet. Try not letting them get so dry between waterings.

Orchidtinkerer · #5 03-08-2021, 11:34 AM

Max picta gets triggered by a cooling winter down to 50F at nght and a reduction of light hours in winter.

Roberta · #6 03-08-2021, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orchidtinkerer

Max picta gets triggered by a cooling winter down to 50F at nght and a reduction of light hours in winter.

That does describe the situation of mine, grown outdoors (coastal southern California, winter lows typically in the low 40's F 4-6 deg C but occasionally lower) I do keep them pretty wet. My conditions are so different than those of the OP, I hope that someone who grows this group under more similar conditions will jump in.

Orchidtinkerer · #7 03-08-2021, 11:48 AM

Roberta I grow a few max pictas and I grow them like you so not sure what the difference the OP is providing. Do yo mean the artificial light?

I was going to add as a small observation that on my biggest picta which I am hoping will flower for me this year the bulbs seem to be twice as thick.

Considering the plant is already 2 years old it is unlikely but I am questioning whether there is possibly more than one plant in that pot thus constricting one anothers growth. Just a suspicion but kind of unlikley tbh.

I've added a pic of my biggest and my smallest

Roberta · #8 03-08-2021, 11:53 AM

OT, if you can get the cool part with indoor growing, that's great - and probably the missing ingredient for the OP.

Sawdust · #9 03-08-2021, 05:22 PM

yes there are two of the tenuifolia, I will make sure to water these one more, thanks

camille1585 · #10 03-09-2021, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sawdust

yes there are two of the tenuifolia, I will make sure to water these one more, thanks

They will probably need more light as well, I can't imagine LEDs providing enough light for them, unless you have some rather high powered fixtures. You're aiming for a light grassy green color. I live at a rather northern latitude as well, and didn't see any blooms until I stuck the plant outside in the growing season and behind a south facing window the rest of the year.