Maxillaria tenifolia and maxillaria schunkeana repotting

[sewagner86]

I have been considering repotting my maxillarias to freshen them up and really check out how they have been growing for me. They both appear to be starting new growth and the schunkeana has a bud on it. They are in sphagnum moss now. I have read they LOVE moisture amd don't care to dry out. What do you all use for repotting medium? Should I keep them in the sphagnum moss? I am assuming best time to repot is when there is new growth? Thanks!!!

[Ray]

The best time to repot is just as new roots are emerging.

If you've been successful with sphagnum, why change? If you're looking for more longevity in the medium, you might want to consider a rock wool blend.

[estación seca]

I haven't grown Max. schunkeana. Maxillaria variabilis does well in anything wet. I've seen people use fine bark, medium bark for big plants, sphagnum moss, perlite and small pumice. Remember not to pull off the stem sheaths - roots grow down through the sheaths and into the medium.

I suspect S/H would work well for Max. variabilis if the humidity were high enough so the top layer of LECA stays moist, at least until the plant is well rooted into the container. I have lower humidity and this didn't work well for me because the upper layers of LECA dried too quickly.

[tmoney]

howdy,

we have our maxillarias (a couple each of variabilis and schunkeana) planted in bark, leca, and sphag mix- the same as our phals. they do great with once a week soak and one or 2x per week spraying all over (but especially down into the growing mass). that seems to make them happy in our conditions. when we take cuttings they also go straight into bark mix and have all done very well that way even in other peoples houses