New Orchidphile with a maxillaria tenuifolia questions

[kbishkin]

Hello, I just joined the orchid board and I thought I'd introduce myself with some questions about my maxillaria tenuifolia.

I don't have pictures right now (will post later) but I have noticed some new growths that don't look like the others. I thought you experts may be able to help me identify them. The new growths are spiral shaped rather than conical. I can't figure out if these are developing buds or just deformed new p-bulb growths.

They are growing from the second layer of the sheath (as buds should) but my plant has p-bulbs growing from the second layer too. Some even have 3 p-bulbs, one on top of another.

Any ideas what these growths could be?

I should probably add a little history about the plant too. I got it about 3 years ago. It grew so much that I divided it into 5 different plants with 10-15 p-bulbs each. They are all outside and get as much light as they can take without burning. But the plant has never flowered for me. So I'm not sure what it looks like in bud. I'm sure I set it back by dividing it but is there anything else I can do to encourage it to bud?

Thanks in advance for your help!