Maxillaria dillonii culture??

[AtantaR]

I know someone here either grows or has grown this nifty orchid before. Just wondering if anyone had some advice on this plant or rather their growing conditions. Im trying to keep it warm and wet. Decent air flow and a medium fert regimen. My real question is that this plant seems more like a terrestrial grower then an epiphyte? Maybe its cause of the amount of wetness it requires. idk. This species is found in peru in wet montane forests. Has anyone seen these in the wild? maybe that would help with my culture. My orchid is doing fine. The bulbs are shriveling a little bit but nothing major. Obviously it needs more water. Its in sphagnum moss. Any incite would be great....Thanks

[AtantaR]

really....i cant be the only one on this forum that grows this orchid........Not even Tom or Ron???...lol

[Brutal_Dreamer]

I am sure if RonNY saw this post, he could advise you. I will post a link to it on his Facebook page and see if he responds.

Cheers,
BD

[AtantaR]

oh yeah...good ole facebook.....i would prob be alot of peoples friends from here if i wasnt so rambunctious and radical....haha......LMAO hehe....thanks Bruce....i appreciate it!

[Ron-NY]

Hi...Bruce found me. I have seen it growing in Peru in wet mountain forests and yes, I have seen it as a terrestrial. I have had one in my collection for many years. It appreciates intermediate temps (60 - 83). I grow mine in a medium bark mix with some rock wool cubes mixed in to hold some extra moisture. Sphag breaks down too easily when constantly wet. The p-bulbs do get narrow, deep grooves with age, so what you are seeing might not be due to too little water. I keep mine fairly bright growing it with strap-leafed Paphs. It is a reliable bloomer.

http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchid...-dillonii.html

[zainal abidin]

Thanks Ron for the invaluable information I only grow warm type of Maxillaria.

[AtantaR]

hahah....boooooo..are intermediate temps to cold for you zain?

Thanks Ron for your reply and Bruce for hunting you down....lol I kinda figured it could grow as a terrestrial....when i got it it was sopping wet in a deep black pot. Unfortunately there were bugs and slugs so i had to transplant it. I used a clay pot . Which from experience i know dries out quicker. I used a bark, charcoal, and sphrag mix...mostly sphrag tho...but yet the p-bulbs shriveled. So i have two things going against me. 1. Clay pot and sphrag 2. Broke some roots while moving to smaller pot (a not so deep pot).... granted my chids usually dry off quick but some not quick enough, even with a small fan. For example my Ludisia discolor stayed to wet and rotted at the base. Usually they like water. Maybe i need sphrag and a clay pot for that one..haha.. It already started growing at the next bract telling me to transplant it..haha....i swear its all about the medium , the mix ratio, and what kinda of pot you use that determines how good you can produce the ideal environment for these chids ...nevermind everything else...haha......I dont think this Max is very old. It has 4 p-bulbs and one new growth. Ive been watering it the same as my Bllra. Marfitch, which is in a growth cycle and my Kraenzlinella anfracta, which i say could be a terrestrial or epiphyte aswell

[zainal abidin]

hahah....boooooo..are intermediate temps to cold for you zain?
Never mine good for you he he he. hoping your plant growing very well looking forward the bloom.