Maxillaria tenuifolia (Project 11 - Summer 2010)

[Call_Me_Bob]

yeah, im never around all day, and if i am, i always forget, so i gotta stay focused!

[Jeff9]

Maxillaria Tenuifolia have narrow leaves which indicate they can tolerate high amounts of light.
Move it closer to the light source slowly with increments of 1-2 days to avoid burning it.

[RosieC]

Thanks Jeff. Good tip about the narrow leaves being an indicator, makes sence to me.

[Call_Me_Bob]

thanks jeff!

[stefpix]

I moved mine outside a day or 2 after retrieving it from the dark home improvement lowes store. Noticed no issue with the sun. Many cloudy days.

last month I bought 2 Cattleya leopoldii on sale at some show [Oak Hill]. The leaves were different. I put one on the roof with really strong sun [a few days shaded by a chili pepper plant] and no damage on the thick upright oblong leaves. The other one that looks more compact with rounder leaves got a leaf burned on my windowsill that cnat compare to the full sun on the roof wher ethere are no buildings or trees limiting the sun exposure.

[Jeff9]

IOSPE actually states Maxillaria Tenuifolia should be grown semi-shade.
However you need to do whatever works best for you and all growers i have heard / read from state they give it bright light.

So to clarify i would put it in a bright spot where it gets filtered light but no direct sunlight / full sun to avoid burn risk.

[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by Jeff9

Maxillaria Tenuifolia have narrow leaves which indicate they can tolerate high amounts of light.

even though I do not disagree that Max. tenuifolia can tolerate high lights, I would be cautious with this statement. Havng narrow leave does not necesarily indicates that the plant is a light lover! There are several factor that could affect the shape of the leave of a particular species. As an example, many orchids/plants have narrow leave as an adaptation to avoid dessication and not as an adaptation to high lights (however, I most admit that most high light plants indeed tend to have narrow leave)

[RosieC]

Thanks for the clarification Ramón, it's interesting stuff to understand plant shape, and I can see what you mean about avoiding desication.

[kavanaru]

...and now it is my turn

My project plant (red form) has arrived today. At the same time, I also received the yellow form, which I have ordered few days later, and a whole batch of TCs


20100825 Maxillaria tenuifolia by kavanaru, on Flickr

[RosieC]

Cool Ramón,

That red one is looking tall already with the p-bulbs climbing like that.

They both look really great, and keep us updated on that yellow one as well, even if it's not the main one you've got for the project.