Maxillaria tenuifolia

[Bud]

Maxillaria tenuifolia is easy to care for. In fact, I just leave it alone in the east side facing window of the kitchen...it is tenacious and hardy...It loves the cooler nighttime temperatures, bright morning light, warm day temperatures with lots of humidity. The flowers give out a fragrance similar to the coconut Hawaiian suntan lotion and it bears long-lasting 1 ½-inch blooms. The dark red flowers with attractive speckled lips of this orchid produce multiple blooms that can last as long as 6 weeks. I started with five bulbs 5 years ago and now I acumulated quite a specimen.

[flexdc]

Well first off, you probably love yours a lot more than I love mine LOL! I left mine to its own devices.
Secondly, I love the way you are displaying it! Is it grown in a separate pot than the display pot? Cause I love that display pot and also your whole plant has a much better shape. Mine is lopsided!
Thirdly, you pedals are pure red whereas mine have spots.

Lastly, how many plants to you have in your one bedroom apartment? Have you left any space for yourself to live in? I keep seeing one beautiful plant after another from you.

[camille1585]

Very nice, your plant is quite elegant the way the leaves arch over. Mine stay pretty much upright.... Wish I could smell it, I love the smell of tenuifolia!

[nenella]

Beautiful big plant Bud; and Wow the flowers a huge bonus- I wish I could smell them! I'm hoping to one day see flowers on mine..
What medium is yours planted in? and what's your average humidity?? I'm hoping you may tell me something which will help me get mine to flower.

[Bud]

Thank You, flexdc ! I dont give much attention to this plant...in fact it can also be considered neglect...its at the very edge of the kitchen window that it gets a lot of warm humidity if I boil soup. I water it if I remember to...it is in a 5" plastic pot and I have a porcelain artsy fartsy ceramic planter to display it in(I got from ROSS sale at $4)...I make it a point to photograph my plants well; so I dress it up to be presentable...its also a matter of arranging plants on tiers atop a table and hanging large plants on the ceiling...I have but a few number of orchids compared to the ones who have greenhouses...its just a matter of juxtaposing the plants in nooks and crannies that they can get light

Thank You, Camille ! I think your plant leaves are stronger than mine to stay straight and upright...the leaves of my plant are softer and so it tends to curve downwards and create an arc...as it gets taller and longer the leaves have to give in to gravity...yes; the fragrance is like the Tropical Hawaiian Sun Tan lotion I got...very nice!

[Bud]

Thank You, nenella ! I will give you a tip: dont fuss with it...leave it alone...I have it potted in a mixture of large bark, chacoal, lava rock, sponge rock and coco chips.
It is 50% humidity and above... because it is in the east facing kitchen window ...bright morning light and warm day temps
maybe the cool spring nights when my window is slightly opened triggered its blooms

[flexdc]

Nenella:
I agree with bud, I think it likes to be left alone. In fact mine is so neglected that it sits in a pot with no medium for 3 months outside in winter. Granted we have mild winters here.
Andrew

[WhiteRabbit]

Fabulous!

[Bud]

Thank You, Sonya !

[RosieC]

Great plant Bud, it looks really happy!