Maxillaria brunnea, and general Max culture

[NickEngler]

I have a Maxillaria brunnea, which I've had about 3 years. After the first year it began spiking about every
3-4 months but none of the spikes has gotten very far. They have all have blasted, turn dark brown or almost black and then dried up. The bloom this fall has gotten taller than any of the others.

I moved it, as well as my Max. coccinea and Max. pseudo-rheichenheimiana the other two I grow, into Aussie Gold's potting mix. They have done much better than in my bark quad-mix, but the bloom spikes continue to blast -- except for the coccinea which reliably and vigorously blooms now and again in late summer although not as prolifically then. My plant room varies from 70-76 days, and 54-56 nights this time of the year to about 80-85 days, and 560-65 nights in mid-summer. I also grow under lights. I water as needed and fertilize about twice a month. The same area grows and blooms several pleurothallids, warmth-tolerant Masdevallias, Miltoniopsis, Paphs, etc.

Does anyone have any ideas what the problem might be? Too cold at night? Too wet? Fungus I should treat for? Suggestions are appreciated. Thanks, Nick

[Francesco]

In my opinion your maxillaria brunnea is suffering of too much humidity.
I grow a maxillaria picta in my little greenhouse with 70% of humidity and a maxinum temperature of 32 C(I think are about 80 F).
Try too keep the plant not too wet!

[stitz]

fyi,
32°C ~ 90°F
27°C ~ 80°F