Maxillaria Marginata

[Shadeflower]

Today I would like to show a Maxillaria marginata flower that has just opened.

I hope you appreciate it more than me as this is arguably my least favorite orchid in my collection.

The plant grows like a twiggy bush and the flowers are tiny compared to the plant but at least it does do well on a lot of neglect and it doesn't need too much light so it has a pretty safe spot here since nothing much else would do as well where it grows .

[Roberta]

It does make up for small flowers by having lots of them. I also like the contrast of the dark markings on the lip and side-lobes. But yes, this one has the potential to become a monster. Mine has outgrown the 10 inch (25)cm basket that I put it in.. started out in a 6 inch (15 cm) basket. It's not getting a bigger basket... the new growths can just stick out with roots in the air. Not so much of a problem for me because it grows outside and so there is room for it (barely) If I needed to grow indoors, I think I'd be looking for a new home for part (or all) of it.

I like mine, but some part of it is likely to get shared pretty soon. Haircut?

[Afid]

Wow! that is a stunning flower (though perhaps I have weird taste). I'll have to keep an eye out and see if I can get my hands on one sometime.

[DeaC]

I really like the flower. Just looked it up and source said it needs cold temps. Is that your culture?

[Roberta]

My experience with it is "tolerates cold" but I don't think that it requires it - I grow it outside so it gets cool winter nights (above freezing but not by a lot) but it also gets summer heat and doesn't seem to mind, in fact that's when it blooms (like now). I'd say "cool-intermediate-not particularly fussy". . .

[Shadeflower]

Hey guys, thanks for looking

The flower is what lured me to get one too but it gets very rambly, I would not have gotten it if I had known, it's more of a connaisseurs greenhouse orchid and I don't have a greenhouse but yes it is in a cold spot that goes down to 10C in winter, west window receiving phalaenopsis level light.

[DirtyCoconuts]

I like it too

When I have a leggy plant I bump up the light a liiiiiittle bit and if it seems to show any indication of a more compact growth habit, I bump it up a tiny bit more.

Does it smell?

[Roberta]

I think the rambling is just what the species does... in nature it would probably tend to climb up trees. All those growths that climb out of the pot or basket have lots of roots - that would be perfect for attaching to tree trunks and branches.