General Chat forum: Maxillaria tenuifolia Orchid-looking for advise
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| Since this area is for anything except Hoya, I though may be some members grow Orchids as well and could advise whether this plant is suitable for growing in a treefern basket and does it flower well in treefern. I had it in a 4 inch pot. I can water it daily if needed. Thinking about taking it out of pot and put in treefern,saw somebody was growing it well that way. If I do that,there is appx 1/2 inch space between treefern and the plant out of pot. Is it better to stick some sphagnum moss between treefrn and plant, for moisture? Thanks. |
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| What is a treefern basket? Leap. The net will appear. |
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| Carol, treefern basket looks like several small diameter twigs are woven together to form a dense mat but it allows lots of air circulation around the plant and drains water quickly.I am not sure of the name of the plant,the twigs come from. These come in a form of slab and also big balls and blocks. Some vendors create a hole in the middle of chunk and then you just plunk your plant in it.  |
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| Seems to me it would work....I do know that different types of orchids can be either tied to a tree, in a basket tied to a tree or in the ground....you might check over on the Orchid Cubit (is there one?).... Leap. The net will appear. |
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| Well,there is an Orchid forum on Allthingsplants and also on Gardenweb.I also browsed at the forum called Orchid Board which is a really good one. I wanted to get opinion of someone who is growing plant in the treefern BASKET and whether to add any moss . I planted mine anyway and added a bit of stuff in the gap. It is still damp from morning water so may be it will work. Most pics I see are MOUNTED ON A SLAB of treefern. There is conflicting info about growing that way, just like with so many other plants.Some people from Florida grew on treefern slabs and theirs did not bloom much but grew well. But I saw one blooming and growing well at this shop where I bought the treefern basket.Probably there is no difference whether basket or slab. Thing is that this orchid blooms in March to May months .Disturbing orchid at this time is not good but I did anyway because it looked like the roots were not too happy in a plastic pot, even though I saw new growth. Mine probably will not bloom now because I messed with it.May be in a season or 2.....I am just starting to get into Orchids,like Hoyas and have a lot to learn. May be I should join a forum but that would lead to buying more because I would like this and that one ...........trying to put a limit on myself. I will keep searching. |
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| Finally repotted in a clay pot after trimming off some bad roots and added fresh media..... just did not want to shock the plant right before bloom time.I will try to either find another one to experiment in tree fern or divide from one I have when mine is big enough. Seems like ideal thing for Cattleya orchids. Not enough info available about growing Maxillaria T. in the treeferm basket although people grow on the mounts and water daily or have the bottom part of mount sit in some water. That would be too much work....... |
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For me, orchids are much more complicated than hoyas. I think it would be important to source how it grows in the wild: totally epiphytically? does it need some substrate? in the ground like Arundina?...then adapt the wild pattern to cultivation....  Leap. The net will appear. |
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| Thanks Carol,yes I read that information too. It has wide distribution and habitat but requires constantly moist soil.Most people grow it in the moss with little bit orchid mix in the moss. My plant is in such mix. But several people grow it mounted too because it tends to grow upward(pseudobulbs on top of pseudobulbs). And I have seen it growing in wooden baskets and treefern baskets too. Only thing is that there is not much space for moss in the treefern so one may need to water well.I have a feeling mine will do well in treefern. Really not too difficult to grow but no plant likes to be overwatered. I do plan to put some in that treefern basket eventually and see the difference for myself. Yes, Orchids are more difficult. But I went to a show and that changed my whole attitude. I talked to growers and shoppers and there were so many people that I was surprised. Then a lady whose house I went to,was growing Orchids and she did not really know much more than basics. Then another kind shopper at a store taught me how to pot these plants correctly and other basics as we were both looking for pots and growing material. That gave me more confidence.Now recently the shop I bought supplies from,the man showed me more and helped learn. So you see, it seems like I should continue to try and learn. I know I might kill some but might succeed at some varieties. Long road to learn but I am walking it and meeting people. Gardener in me is itching to grow more complex stuff and my family encourages me to try my hands at different things.So,here I go........ |
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| GOOD for you, Alka!!!! Gotta try everything!!! Maybe if you rest the tree fern bowl (withthe orchid IN it) in a shallow dish of water,the plant will wick it up.... Leap. The net will appear. |
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That is a good idea Carol. I was thinking about that too and now with your advise,may be I would go ahead. Gotta find a big bowl now.......will post progress when there is any.  Thanks. |
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| Alka, I bet it would work great on a cork mount. I have alot of my orchids mounted. Here's a link that may help you out. http://abigail-evans.suite101.com/how-to-grow-a-coconut-orch... I'll try to take a pic of some of mine mounted. But wait till it's done blooming before you do anything or it may blast the blooms. |
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| Thanks MJ. I think mounted ones would need watering/misting more often. Right? I do not have cork but I do have treefern which I plan to use once it is done blooming ,if it blooms at all....... I think you have to put some moss under and may be some over,the roots to keep some moisture since this variety needs moisture on constant basis.I have a bulbophyllum too and it is in plastic pot with pleanty of moss.Seems Ok for now with new growth on it .Maxillaria is also showing new growth now. Would love to see your pics. |
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| Alka, Yes the downside to mounted ones is that they need to be misted/watered more..unless we are getting our usual rain. The upside is that is almost impossible to overwater them which is what most people do with orchids. I'll try to get pics tomorrow. |
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| My Maxillaria is budding now....yaaay. Carol, I found this info about Tree fern. It is so cool......so....er...Jurassic. Thought you might want to grow tree fern........ http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/OF-16.pdf |
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| Thanks Alka...we have a couple of foreign tree fern here...and one endemic one. I love them and I chop the bark up to grow out my anthurium seeds. Beautiful trees... Leap. The net will appear. |
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 First bloom. Too bad I have 'cold and sore throat' so I can not smell anything now but I smelled it at Bromeliad show and it's scent is like coconut. Lots of new growth is coming up.So,I must be doing something right. Will know better if it blooms next year. |
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Oh Alka, thats a beauty! Hope you feel better soon  |
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| OH...I have that....(didn't know the name because it is common here and I only know it as the Coconut Orchid.) I stuck it in the crotch/armpit of a tree and it is huge.... love the scent!!!!! Congrats, Alka...it is lovely!!!!! Carol Leap. The net will appear. |
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| Carol, you are so lucky......you just stuck an Orchid in the tree and it is growing like some wild species ! Yes, it is called Coconut Orchid. I love the way it looks. If you get a chance and if it is in a place where you can safely reach it, I would love to see pictures of yours.Pleeeease. I thought of sticking it like that too but we do not have as much rain/humidity as in Hawaii and sun is really brutal for a few months here.Those days it does not rain much. Then the winters can be too cold. So, I thought I should keep in pot.This one likes moist media I read. The mounted specimens I saw ,were not very good looking- pseudo bulbs were shriveled,even new ones. May be because they do not retain moisture too long. Potted ones were much better looking everywhere,with more blooms. I need more trees in shade now,to hang my Hoyas and stick my Orchids in them.  |
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| Will take some photos Alka... Leap. The net will appear. |
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