Malaxis without a top...

[Bulbopedilum]

I just recieved this Malaxis metallica and the top broke in transit. Will it heal and continue growing or will it need to grow new growths?

[IngieBee]

I'm sorry nobody has answered here. I don't have a solid answer either, other than to say it looks as though this plant grows a lot like a tolumnia, which grows bulbless new growths next to the older growths. So, if it survives the shock of the breakage, and adjusts to it's new environment, it should grow a new section?? Obviously I'm new too, and I don't know the proper names of the parts, I'm just giving you my best guess

[PaphMadMan]

Malaxis has sympodial growth. That means each new growth normally comes from rhizome at the base of the plant. This growth was probably nearly full grown already, so the normal growth cycle was not interrupted in any way. If this growth would have flowered, that won't happen now, but otherwise all is well.

[Bulbopedilum]

Ah ok, so it grows like a jewel orchid?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by Bulbopedilum

Ah ok, so it grows like a jewel orchid?

Yes, and no.

Yes:

1. It can create offshoots from the base.

2. They like to be grown humid.

3. They do like lower light levels (bright shade).

No:

1. Some species can go deciduous.

2. They have a "light" dormancy.


To answer your original question. It'll be ok. Grow it the way it should be grown, you should see flowers on the next blooming season.

[Bulbopedilum]

The leaves are limp, droopy, and some are starting to shrivel a bit, is this ok? (Yes, I have watered it)

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

If in question check to see if the roots are damaged. If not, then it could be that this is a species that goes deciduous. If it is, then you know to reduce watering. If there are no roots, place it a container away from animals that can eat it, and store it humid without water touching the stem.

[IngieBee]

Phillip, this is in the beginner's section, and there is so much that can go wrong if roots are bad. I think Bulbopedilum needs to check for a few things. I suggest watching some videos, and taking pictures to share here.

First, did you check the roots by un-potting her? Does it look as though any of them were nibbled on? You can see such damage in this picture

You could, unfortunately, have been over-watering it, which can quickly kill off the roots as well, in which case you'll need to do as Phillip says. Posting more pictures, especially of what you find if you un-pot it (including pictures of the media it was in) would help these old-timers diagnose the issues better.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Malaxis are kind of middle of the road in level of difficulty. There will be some advanced techniques and some beginner's basics to be used with certain species within this genus. Orchids in this genus are technically not what I'd call a typical beginner's orchid.

They do not typically produce a whole lot of roots compared to stuff like Oncidium or Cattleyas, nor are the roots very long. This is a very common trait among certain orchids, especially terrestrial orchids. Malaxis spp. are mostly terrestrial or lithophytic.

Posting more photos do help - particularly of the root system.

[Bulbopedilum]

First off, there doesnt seem to be a generic help forum for orchids so I put my issues here if they seem to be simple enough, regardless of what plant it is.

Anyway, here is the plant, the roots are covered in sphagnum, and there seems to be only 2 of them, but from what I can tell there has been no damage to them. It's hard to get the sphagnum off and I dont whant to accidentally break the roots.


The media is a mix of sphagnum moss and moss I have lying around (not sphagnum, but it has worked fine for all my other plants).