Maxillaria tenuifolia: coconut oil fragrance!
 

Tried to post yesterday but for some reason, don't see my post - trying again.

I bought my M. tenuifolia about 4 years ago as a moderate-sized bagged Better-Gro orchid, from Lowes. This was not a "rescue" plant, but pretty sturdy and healthy (at least here, most of the Better Gro plants seem to be reasonably healthy if you get them within a month or 2 after they arrive in the store).

My Max ten has grown steadily larger in a 4-inch terracotta pot. Last year, it developed buds for the first time, but all but one blasted. This year, 16 blooms/buds!

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...psgsltcxv2.jpg

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...psufgjoxro.jpg

My culture this year has included treating the plant like a Cymbidium in terms of temperature. It went outside when it was safe for my Cymbidium, came indoors when temps were going into the 30s F at night. I don't know why this seemed like the right way to go with culture, or if my plant did well because of, or in spite of, this type of care.

Nice growing, and a great bloom!

Beautiful! This is a gorgeous display in the bowl. I have always admired this plant even when not in bloom and yours is a perfect size and so well balanced. I'll bet the fragrance fills the room! Thanks so much for sharing!

Thanks!

The bowl used to belong to my mother-in-law, we have been using it to display flowers for quite a while now, both orchid and non-orchid types. I like decorative containers, but prefer them just for displaying, and also prefer containers that were originally intended for some other purpose (this was always meant as a kitchen bowl, just a more decorative one; I'm thinking of using an old cookie jar this way).

The fragrance is strong enough that you can detect it in most of the room, but not overpowering. I consider it more like coconut oil than fresh coconut. Sort of smells like being at the beach in the 1970s (tanning oil preferred over SPF factor!)

How nice to have all those blooms at once. I get blooms, but one at a time, it seems. I will try your culture advice next year. This year I kept it in all winter and I haven't seen a bloom yet.

Well done!

Looks almost like an arrangement!

Thanks!

Think of it as more what I did rather than what I advise. Probably would be helpful to have some experienced growers of Max ten tell us if I did the right thing, or did the crazy thing.

Heh. One thing I've learned about Max. tenufolia is that there is a lot of puzzlement about getting them to bloom. I consulted the Baker and Baker data and that indicated that the average min. winter temperature was 56 degrees in Jan. Based on that, I kept them inside as my winter temps are in the 40s most nights. Maybe I will get more bloom as the spring advances.

Just beautiful! I can almost smell it from here. :) I too like the way you've displayed it by putting the clay pot into the pretty decorative one.

So, you all are thinking it grows like a cymb temp wise? Mine was a tot last year but bloomed, this year it has more light and has grown but, so far no blooms.So, I am guessing light is not the factor.