Max. tenufolia and general update

[kaitala]

Hi, all. Haven't been on in what seems like forever! Just here to say hi, and update.

Last year, I purchased Max. tenufolia at the suggestion of kingoforchids. Didn't get a bloom out of it then, but it looks like I'll be getting one this year. I'm so excited!

Sederia japonica, also purchased thanks to king, bloomed last year. It was beautiful, and I'm hoping it blooms again this year.

Lost my Mediocalcar odorata. Never bloomed, and I guess it got too dry. I'd try it again, but not in the dart frog vivarium.

Actually found a viable rescue from Lowes. Pulled it out of the pot, still had good roots, repotted immediately when I got home, and it seems to be doing okay. Just a generic Phal, but another nice experiment.

Have two jewel orchids, one thriving, one not so much.

I did repot my S. japonica and M. tenufolia I got from Waldor. Was surprised to find they were in nothing but sphagnum. Thought that was a no-no? They do seem happier in the mix I made. It was a shot in the dark, but it's a mix I made for the vivariums with cork, rice hulls, coarse coir and cocoa hulls. They seem to like it, so far, and the M. tenufolia doesn't get wrinkled like it did in pure spagnum.

Well, just wanted to pop in and say hi. Looking forward to some shows soon, I think Deep Cut (Monmouth(?) County NJ) has one coming up in late winter. I'm going to go browse around some pics and catch up on reading some posts!


Stephi

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Congrats on your successes! Max tenuifolia is a great one to have. It was actually my very first Maxillaria species ever. When it bloomed, I did not expect it at all! Again, good job.

Anything within the Podochilus group of plants (Mediocalcar is included in this group) is actually not the greatest beginner's plant, in my opinion, for the reason that they love consistent moisture and humidity. So you're not alone on this one. Good luck on your 2nd try for Mediocalcar decoratum.

[RosieC]

Glad your Max and Sederia are doing well. I am just trying a Max tenifolia for the first time and the Sederia is on my wishlist. So is the Mediocalcar for that matter, but I'm more wary of that one for the same reasons Philip states. I'll try it one day though.

[kaitala]

Thanks, everyone! I thought the Medio would do well in the Dart Frog viv. There is supposed to be constant humidity in there, but it did get a little drier in there than I would have preferred. It did not get misted, however, perhaps that was the problem. The frogs are still alive, so it couldn't have gotten THAT dry in there.

I still have the tree fern panel in there, hoping it might come back or something (hey, I've had stranger things happen!)

I'm excited about the Max. I think it's going to bloom and it's forming some new bulbs under where the inflorescences will be. Seems they like the new potting mix.

I thought the orchids would be so very hard to grow, but some are doing okay under my care. Not counting poor choices of Lowe's Rescues, I've only killed one of 4, and I'm hoping that one becomes a zombie orchid, back from the dead.

I'll try decorata if I choose a plant like that again. I'm making a new dart frog viv, and would like to try more jewels in there, and maybe something like a medio again. I'm reluctant to spend anoter $24 on something that I can't keep alive, though!

Thanks again for the kind words and great suggestions! Good luck on your Max, Rosie!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by kaitala

I'll try decorata if I choose a plant like that again. I'm making a new dart frog viv, and would like to try more jewels in there, and maybe something like a medio again. I'm reluctant to spend anoter $24 on something that I can't keep alive, though!

Try Clackamas Orchids.