My new Maxillaria tenuifolia

[fishmom]

Your watering will depend on the medium and your temperatures. It shouldn't dry out. During the summer, when mine is outside and temps are often above 80 degrees, I let a bit of water remain in a saucer underneath after watering for extra moisture. I don't do that in winter, or if the weather is cooler.


I use a skewer to monitor how wet it is staying. Very helpful!

[camille1585]

Mine is quite red, but not as red as in the photo. I had edited it to tone down the red and I uploaded the wrong one.

As to fertilizer, I rarely remember to fertilize since I don't grow it in the same room as the rest of my collection, but I use a 20-20-20 at roughly 0.5g/L. Watering frequency in the summer is when it's just damp (anywhere from 2 to 4 times a week depending on the weather), and in the winter it's once it's completely dry.

[Petr1986]

Hi!

Thank you for the reply!

Sorry for being stupid, but I am completely new to fertilizers... I guess 20-20-20 is mixture of something, but whag exactly please? Do I have to mix something or is there some fertilizer I can buy already prepared? Thanks

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Petr1986

Hi!

Thank you for the reply!

Sorry for being stupid, but I am completely new to fertilizers... I guess 20-20-20 is mixture of something, but whag exactly please? Do I have to mix something or is there some fertilizer I can buy already prepared? Thanks

If you look at the label of any fertilizer, you will see 3 numbers (sometimes there are more) which indicate the ratio of N (nitrogen), P (Phosphorus) and K (Potassium). A 20-20-20 fertilizer has all 3 elements in equal ratios. A 20-10-10 has 2 times more nitrogen than either phosphorus or potassium. A 20-20-20 is the same as a 5-5-5, but is 4 times more concentrated. The only difference is that you need to dilute the first one much more to get the same dosage. I choose to buy the more concentrated version because it's cheaper.

As to what fertilizer to use, if you ask 20 people they will give you 20 different answers! As a beginner to fertilizers you generally can't go wrong with one of those 'special for orchids' fertilizers applied at the recommended dosage/frequency (assuming you don't have super hungry or super sensitive orchids). Though the 'bloom booster' fertilizers are generally a waste of your money. As you learn more you can change to other fertilizers and change the dosage/frequency.

A good place to learn more about feeding your orchids is Ray's website, who is a member here: Feeding and Watering - First Rays LLC

[Petr1986]

HI Camille!

Thank you, that’s so useful!

I went to the shop today and I found only Bonsai food with 3.5 3.5 3.5. All others were like 12 7 6.. So if half of the cap is 3.5 in 1 liter I gonna do is - 1 l of water and 3.5 x 6 (of half caps or 3 full). With this I should have a concentration close go 20-20-20 in 1 liter. Hope I understand ot nlbetter now thank you for your help!

[estación seca]

A simpler way to think about fertilizer is to think of how much nitrogen you give. Commercial farms dose fertilizer based on parts per million of nitrogen. There is a fertilizer calculator on the First Rays Web site in the Free Information section. You can input the nitrogen number from the label and the parts per million (ppm) you wish. The calculator tells you how much powder to add to water to get that concentration.

Some people use a very low dose of fertilizer at every watering. They tend to use 10-25 ppm nitrogen. Those watering weekly might use 50-100 ppm, and monthly 120-200 ppm.

[Petr1986]

Wow thank you!

According to this guide, with my N3.5 I should add 1.4 ml into 1L with every watering. This guide will help me a lot! Thank you

[Petr1986]

Hi guys! I have this orchid for about month bow and it’s doing well. I can see new growth of the roots and leafs as well... we have a really nice weather now, sunny 25-30degrees. Should I put her on my outside terace during the day? Would she like it? She is on the south facing window with the sun from 12-4. I could put her outside and she would have even more sun and heat... but would she prefer it? Thanks

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Petr1986

Hi guys! I have this orchid for about month bow and it’s doing well. I can see new growth of the roots and leafs as well... we have a really nice weather now, sunny 25-30degrees. Should I put her on my outside terace during the day? Would she like it? She is on the south facing window with the sun from 12-4. I could put her outside and she would have even more sun and heat... but would she prefer it? Thanks

Yes, it will like it, and you can leave it there day and night until the end of summer, unless you get some cool spells. In the wild they grow in hot and bright conditions. I've seen photos elsewhere (another forum I think) of some very floriferous plants, and the person says the the plant thrives with those conditions. I put mine outside a week ago, and am progressively moving it a spot where it has a couple hours of direct sun (like it had indoors until now), to full sun from 12 to 7, and it will stay there until mid to late september.

[Petr1986]

THank you Camille, I thought she will like it.

She is sitting in her spot already the window above is her revular station. I will bring her home for the nights as it can be very windy here, I live be the sea on the coast.

Very happy to see the new growth 🤗