Maxillaria tenuifolia (Project 11 - Summer 2010)

[tcrane]

Blooming tip - It was suggested to me to let this species dry out a bit to inspire it to bloom. A really excellent grower at my local OS gave me the advice, she said 'you don't want this one looking lush!' I've been keeping mine pretty moist and have been having the same results - lots of growth, plump bulbs, but no flowers, so now I'll be watering less and seeing what happens.

-Tristan C

[Call_Me_Bob]

Originally Posted by tcrane

Blooming tip - It was suggested to me to let this species dry out a bit to inspire it to bloom. A really excellent grower at my local OS gave me the advice, she said 'you don't want this one looking lush!' I've been keeping mine pretty moist and have been having the same results - lots of growth, plump bulbs, but no flowers, so now I'll be watering less and seeing what happens.

-Tristan C

interesting! i was keeping mine ont he very dry side, but just transferred to SH because i thought more water would help it bloom! uh oh!

[RosieC]

Very interesting Tristan. I've been keeping mine quite moist as well. Can't remember whose I saw a picture of the flower from on facebook not long ago, but I do remember them commenting that it had got quite wrinkled. I think I will have to let mine dry out more in the winter rest next year.

[Call_Me_Bob]

im not sure what to do! i dont want to shock it again because it took a hit when i transferred it

[RosieC]

Not sure Bob, I've not heard how these do in S/H and I agree it might be best not to transfer it too often.

I actually have two, like Ramon I've got a yellow one as well, but bought quite a bit later than the project one. That is in bark and I find it harder to get the watering right, so I might mount that this year.

[Call_Me_Bob]

im just going to leave it see what it does

[Zoi2]

I kept mine on the dry side last year and nothing happened but it also didn't get real good light. I think this year I'm going to keep it moist and a lot of light and see what happens. I just love these project experiments!
Joann

[Call_Me_Bob]

Mine got lower light too. So I'm putting it with the cattleyas this year. The thin leaves make me think it would be able to take high light.

[kavanaru]

I give mine a bit of a dry rest, but I think the problem this year is that the winter was very dark, and it was also standing on the darkest corner in the GH...

[Rowangreen]

Is it too late to join?

I'm assuming the answer is yes, but I'm hoping you won't mind me sharing anyway! I just brought back a Max ten from an orchid society meeting!

Actually a TC came first (of course it had to have TC's didn't it) I was actually at the membership table in the process of signing up when I heard something about a load of plants being given away free. Since the membership clerk was looking for something I asked if I could go look. There was three plants in the tray (apparently there had been loads more), and I went for the smallest, Burr. Living Fire 'glowing embers', with 15 pbulbs (though a couple of those are on the way out). Then next to that tray someone was selling some of their plants, and there was the Max! Divided from their own plant last year, now has 6 bulbs with 3 of them new (and possibly the start of another). £5. Then I joined...

Then I won a plant in the raffle... £2 for the Dendrobium! Unlabelled, but the consensus is that it's kingianum or one of it's hybrids. It did have a keiki, but I imediately snapped that off and gave it to someone I was talking too. It seems to be a tradition there that as soon as the judging is over Dendrobium keikis start getting snapped off the show plants and given away, so I loved being able to join in...

Very excited about my new Max!