Maxillaria tenuifolia (Project 11 - Summer 2010)

[Connie Star]

I think there is the beginning of a spike on mine. Only time will tell.

[Becca]

Can someone refresh my memory of what type of lighting these like and how much water they like? Mine is potted in tree fern fiber and seems to dry out pretty fast. I'm also pretty sure there is a packing peanut in the center so that probably adds to the quick drying time from watering. I give mine pretty high light and the p-bulbs are a yellow-green color. The pictures that Jeff just posted are a nice light green color, no yellow tinge like mine have. I'm trying to figure out if I'm providing to much light?

[Call_Me_Bob]

what did the beginning of the spike look like?

[RJSquirrel]

mines just pushin up lots of bulbs into the air

you know i realized something important about them and most other orchids that display a lot of stem chaffe the outgrown onion skin on the reed...it has a very important purpose in the wild...I used to be obsessive about cleaning this stuff up..Sometimes, okey MOST times its useless, but I still tried..After some further enlightenment and leaving my plants for a few days un watered and un cared for ..That old onion skin holds moisture from the air, fog, dew, humidity etc etc..so when there no water/rain, it can draw from the straw as I call it.. and leave the chaff alone now too


mine jus grow in the window all he do but thats okey I like to look at him

[Jeff9]

Mine is slightly on the yellow side too, some of the older leaves have developed a yellow tint and the rest is just bright green. I give it the most light i can give it.

The first time you see the buds peaking out they look a bit like a new growht but fatter.
The big diffrence is the place they show, if its coming from the 1st sheath its a growth and the second sheath is a bud

[Call_Me_Bob]

in your picture it looks like the third sheath. unless im mistaken on what sheaths are for maxs

[PitcherASAMD]

FYI: i went to my local orchid society meeting last night and one of the members had a gorgeous max tenufloria in bloom. He has it growing in a clay pot with only moss as the medium. High light. It does dry out quicker so more watering is needed. I'm gonna give this a try. And the smell is AMAZING!
Katie

[Jeff9]

Could be bob, i should check it. But as a general rule the growth will appear on the first sheath directly against the bulb, and the flowers will appear from the lower sheaths.

[PitcherASAMD]

Originally Posted by Jeff9

Could be bob, i should check it. But as a general rule the growth will appear on the first sheath directly against the bulb, and the flowers will appear from the lower sheaths.

That's how the one i saw last night at the orchid society meeting was growing and blooming from. I took a pic but it's on my phone and I have no idea how to upload onto here from my phone...

Katie

[Call_Me_Bob]

i think i may have a spike there is a definite new bulb growing. and one sheath down there is a small growth that is fatter