Maxillaria lutescens

Native to: Departamento de Tolima - Colombia Departamento del Huila - Colombia Ecuador French Guiana Guatemala Guyana Mato Grosso do Sul - Brazil Panama Pasco - Peru Sao Paulo - Brazil

General Information

Maxillaria lutescens is a warm to hot growing epiphytic orchid belonging to the sub family Epidendroideae native to Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Brazil, Panama, and Peru.

Plant Description

Grows to 6-20cm. Each new growth has numerous leathery leaves. Pseudobulbs grow to 1.8-5.5cm. The plant tends to climb or sprawl with each new growth

Flowers

A single fragrant blossom appears during Autumn and Spring

Fragrance

The orchid is fragrant.

Blooming Season

• Autumn
• Spring

Substrate(s)

• Coarse
• Medium
• Bark
• Charcoal
• Spaghnum Moss
• Perlite

Care Notes

These orchids like to be watered regulary, especially during warm weather, and prefer a well draining mix or also do well mounted, provided they can be watered daily or even many times a day.

These are quite a forgiving orchid, there are no special requirements to get this orchid to flower, just good care and consistent conditions. Larger plants may be more fussy and can react poorly to change; a poorly timed repotting, a pest infection or an unusually hot day can set them back for a couple of years. However, even plants that have been treated poorly can thrive, and if they are set back they often recover much stronger then they would otherwise be.

Fragrant:

• IsFragrant

Climate

Grows at low to high elevations. Rainfall ranges from 66mm to 394mm per day, heaviest in June and lightest in October. Humidity ranges from 79% to 88%, highest in May and lowest in October. Temperature ranges from 21C to 33C, highest in September (22C to 33C) and lowest in February (21C to 29C).

Watering

These orchids prefer a wet-dry cycle between waterings, they should be watered frequently but only when the moisture is approaching dryness, where the pot feels light and/or the media looks dry. Keep an eye on mounted orchids in warm weather as they may dehydrate quickly.

Fertiliser

Apply liquid based fertiliser per recommended directions. They can benefit from a high phosphate fertiliser leading up to flowering season, followed by a high nitrogen fertiliser when new growth appears, and a balanced fertiliser in other times. These orchids can also tolerate slow release fertiliser applied 1-2 pellets per cup (250ml) of media.

Use balanced fertiliser during Spring and Summer. Be sure to flush out excess fertiliser by running water through the media regularly year round. Apply fertiliser regularly at half strength year round. Use a high Nitrogen fertiliser during Spring and Summer. Use a high Phosphorous fertiliser during Summer.

Potting

Due to the growth nature of these plants they are best mounted onto cork, tree fern slabs, or even trees if the climate suits. Water regularly especially in hot weather.

Use water retentive media such as moss to prevent roots from drying out quickly This plant does very well in baskets or suspended pots This plant does well mounted to Cork slabs. Repotting is best done annually.