Maxillaria

Maxillaria is considered to be a rather large genus, which is a representative of the orchid family and is represented by epiphytes. This genus includes more than 300 different types of crops found in the wild in the subtropics and tropics of America. Moreover, these plants are endowed with rather strong morphological differences. Therefore, due to the fact that this diversity is quite pronounced, today this genus can be divided into several separate ones.

Maxillaria - description and characteristics

Although this genus of plants is quite large, it is customary to grow only a few of its species with large or fragrant flowers in indoor conditions. The most widespread species was the narrow-leaved Maxillaria. In the wild, it can be found in the area from Nicaragua to Mexico. The pseudobulbs of this rather compact sympodial orchid are endowed with a slightly flattened and smooth, ovoid shape, reaching a length of 4 centimeters and a width of 3 cm.They are located at a fairly close distance from each other, on a horizontally located, creeping, ground shoot, otherwise a rhizome. They grow in the form of a ladder, which means that each individual young pseudobulb grows slightly higher than the previous one, because the rhizome is not pressed against the surface of the ground, but is slightly raised. Young pseudobulbs are single-leaved, and the old ones are made naked. Leathery leaves have a frame-like shape and are slightly sharp at the tip, and also have a well-defined main vein, and the young are folded along it. They also have a length of 35 cm and a width of about 1 cm. Growing in nature, the flowering period for this culture falls on June-July. The peduncles of this plant are rather short, only 5 cm, they develop their own near the base of young shoots and can bring only one fragrant flower each. Pronounced zygomorphic flowers are quite large in size, can have a diameter of up to 5 cm. Sepals, of which 3 pieces (more precisely, sepals, they are often confused with petals) have a lanceolate shape and a slightly curved edge back. They can grow to a width of 130 millimeters and a length of 250 millimeters, and they are at an angle of 120 degrees relative to each other. Two opposite petals grow to a length of 200 mm and a width of 80 mm. Outwardly, they are very similar to ears, since they are almost perpendicular to the surface of the calyx, and their tips are slightly bent. The third petal looks like a protruding tongue long. The column of this flower (reproductive organ) can be 150 millimeters long, and its tip is slightly bent and has a hook-like shape. Most often, the flower is endowed with a red tint, but its column, the bases of the petals and sepals have a yellow color. The third petal, otherwise the lip, is also endowed with a yellow tint, but its surface is also covered with specks of scarlet color. This genus of orchids does not have high and spectacular external data, compared to other species from the orchid family, but a huge number of gardeners love to grow this flower not so much for its external qualities as for the magnificent smell of its flowers, which resembles the scent of pineapple.

Maxillaria: growing and care

For experienced orchid-loving flower growers, Maxillaria is best suited for growing. For good development and color, culture requires special conditions for growth, which, in turn, can not always be done so easily at home.Experts recommend using orchidariums for this, otherwise special terrariums or greenhouses.

- Temperature control and lighting

Correct lighting and temperature conditions are the main requirements for the successful cultivation of this plant. The narrow-leaved maxillaria in the wild loves to grow in highlands, so it requires a sufficient amount of light and not very high temperatures. Moreover, quite strong lighting and cool air should flow to this plant all year round. That is why experienced florists advise to make special phytolamps for this flower, and it is worth noting that daylight hours all year round should last about 12 hours, moreover, the best illumination level for the plant will be from 7000 lux. It is also worth noting that this flower must be protected from direct sunlight, as this can increase the temperature regime, which is completely undesirable for this orchid. This plant requires a moderate air temperature, the heat has a very bad effect on it. The best temperature for growing this plant is 19-22 degrees. Therefore, you should not put this flower on a window sill on the south side, even if you shade it a little, it will not save the flower from high temperatures. I would also like to note that this plant can be completely replaced with artificial lighting instead of solar, but for this, only special phytolamps are required. In this case, the culture can be placed in a cooler place in the house, where direct sunlight and the air heated from heating devices will not reach it. This genus of orchids differs from others precisely in that it does not need a differential temperature regime during the day for the formation of peduncles.

- Watering

Another distinctive feature of this genus of orchids is that on the surface of the roots of this plant there is no completely porous layer of protection, otherwise velamen, designed to protect the accumulated liquid from quickly enough evaporation. Therefore, in order to prevent the death of the roots of this plant, care should be taken so that the substrate does not dry out. But it is not worth giving a large amount of liquid to the flower, since with an excess and stagnation of water in the substrate, rot can form on the roots of asthenia. Therefore, remember that watering is carried out so that the substrate is not wet, but only regularly wet. Also, another condition for watering is that the water should be soft, and its acidity level should be about 5 pH. Plus, experienced flower growers advise using settled and filtered water for irrigation. The watering procedure is done by completely immersing the container with a flower in a basin filled with water. They take out the plant after about half an hour and wait for all excess water to drain. And only then can the container with the flower be placed in its usual place of growth.

- Humidity

This plant is quite capable of growing in a place with dry air, but still the best option for this flower is considered one when the air humidity is about 60-70 percent. To humidify the air in the room, you can use special household humidifiers or steam generators. The container with the flower can also be placed on a pallet filled with pebbles and a small amount of liquid. You can also moisten this plant from a conventional sprayer, but this should not be done in the daytime, it would be better to do it in the morning or in the evening.

- Ground

To successfully grow this genus of this plant, you can use pots, blocks or hanging baskets. But at the same time, it is worth noting that this flower should not be planted in a pot, since it grows in the form of a "ladder", and after about one year it can fall on its side from its own weight.To prevent this from happening, it is required to purchase supports from tubes, which are covered with a layer of coconut fiber, from a special garden store. They are placed in a pot at a mandatory slope. As a result, the rhizome will begin to grow under such a support and be fixed by the roots in the coconut fiber. For planting such a flower, sphagnum would be an excellent option, without the presence of other additives. A large piece of pine bark is used in the form of a block, while it must be elongated. The roots and rhizome, wrapped in sphagnum in advance, are well fixed on the surface of such a block.

- Fertilizer

The feeding procedure is done to this plant during the period of active growth, about once every two weeks. For this, a complex special fertilizer for orchids is used. In this case, only one fifth of the dosage recommended on the package of this fertilizer is taken.

- Blooming

With good and correct lighting and air temperature, the flowering period of this flower can come in absolutely any month of the year. After the flower has blossomed, it begins to fade only after a month and a half, but the flowering period lasts about 4 months.

Maxillaria: reproduction and transplantation

For the reproduction of this plant growing at home, only one method is used - the division of the rhizome into separate parts. But it is worth knowing that such a division must necessarily have from three pseudobulbs, moreover, adults. In industrial conditions, seed propagation is also used, as well as the cloning method, otherwise the meristem method.

As for the transplant, it is done only when necessary. For example, in this case, when the flower does not fit in the container.

Diseases and pests

When asked about pests and diseases, we can say briefly - this plant has a high level of immunity to any disease, as well as harmful insects. Although, at the same time, it should be noted that if all the necessary and high-quality measures for caring for this plant are not carried out, or there is a rather unfavorable climate for it, then it can die quite quickly.