Maxillaria tenuifolia (Project 11 - Summer 2010)

[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Looks great!! I can smell it from here, lol. Isn't it a bit out of season though?

My plant is growing very well this winter, but that seems to be the only thing it does. Crossing my fingers for some blooms this year.

Season? what is that? I am sure that most of my plants lost that knowledge looooong ago :-)))))))

[RosieC]

Cool, good to see what the yellow looks like.

My project plant has grown well over the winter, and I bought a yellow version later on and that has also grown well since I mounted it last year. Hope I get flowers on one of them one day

[Call_Me_Bob]

Nice job! Interesting to see the yellow form!

[camille1585]

WOOHOO!!! I have spikes!!!!!!

I was watering it today and noticed some weird looking growths (the new growths have started appearing a few weeks ago) and realized that they are actually spikes. I counted at least 3, but I'll have to recount when I have time. They certainly were NOT there when I watered last friday!

Finally some blooms in sight. I think my plant was simply too young before, the newest set of mature bulbs are monsters compared to the older ones. Can't believe it's going to bloom, and this coming out of one of the cloudiest and darkest winters in Dutch meteorological history.

[nenella]

Wow that's really cool news Camille! Can you post pics please? mne just grows and grows no signs of blooms yet.

[camille1585]

How long do the blooms last usually??

Mine looks to be on track to bloom within a week, but then I'm away to a conference for a week.... Please don't tell me I've been waiting over 2 years for blooms, only to miss it!!!

Nenella, I took a photo last week but keep forgetting to upload it to the computer. I'll do it this evening if I remember.

[Call_Me_Bob]

This one really likes to surprise me! I have neglected this one for a LONG time, it's all shriveled and leaves are falling off left and right I probably haven't watered it in a month. I thought today I would have some pity, well I found 4 buds!!! Two might blast by the looks of it, and that's probably because of no water for a month. But the other two buds look great! Can't wait!!

I'm wondering if I've caught on to something. Both times I've had it go to bloom, it's been right after it's been receiving a lot less water than it normally does. I wonder if that helps to initiate!

[camille1585]

That's great Bob!!! You get buds too! Funny about your theory, because mine is in spike after heavy and regular watering. But I think the plant was just too small before.

You'll know this Bob since you've bloomed it before- how long do the blooms last? The buds have emerged on my plant, and seems on track to bloom early next week. And I'm not here from the 2nd to 9th!!!

[Call_Me_Bob]

Originally Posted by camille1585

That's great Bob!!! You get buds too! Funny about your theory, because mine is in spike after heavy and regular watering. But I think the plant was just too small before.

You'll know this Bob since you've bloomed it before- how long do the blooms last? The buds have emerged on my plant, and seems on track to bloom early next week. And I'm not here from the 2nd to 9th!!!

Haha! Guess that's not the answer then :P

I can't remember exactly how long, to be honest. But I'm thinking maybe 2-3 weeks, it wasn't incredibly short, but wasn't long enough to take note of it being extra long.

[camille1585]

Thanks, looks like I'll get to enjoy the blooms a little bit once i'm back. I'll move it back from the window though so it doesn't get as much sun and so is a bit cooler.

I'm been reading up on the plant, and it seems that they do get a bit drier in the wild, between december and march. And they enjpy slightly cooler nights during that period. But no mention of whether these are important bloom triggers or not. I guess we'll both keep doing what works!