sick Maxillaria tenuifolia

[xantippy]

Hi Everyone,

I've had a Maxillaria tenuifolia 'Jo Ann' for about 2 years. Until recently, it was healthy but never bloomed, so I moved it near a grow light for about two weeks. Since then, leaves have been turning brown and dropping off, and the 'bulbs' are turning brown as well. Is this from too much light, or is something else going on? Also, some leaves have been "ribbed" for some time. Is that natural? Thanks in advance!

photos of the sick orchids:
audiomattersav.com/images/temp/Maxillaria1.jpg
audiomattersav.com/images/temp/Maxillaria2.jpg

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

If the ribbing has the folds perpendicular to the length of the leaf, it is probably from getting too dry for too long. Once a set of leaves is ribbed, they stay that way. Just have to wait until the plant outgrows those leaves. Other than that, I can't offer too much else in cultural advice, as the one I have is doing OK, but hasn't bloomed lately. I see Jay Pfal's Orchid Encyclopedia says low light. May move mine to lower light.

[PhalPal]

I have a Max elator and when I put it close to, not under the lights, I had little 'burned' areas on the sides of the leaves closest to the light. This happened in two days so I moved it back to it's very low natural light area.

I have two new blooms on it, my first! I can't wait to post their little picture when they open.

[jerrymeola]

It looks very familiar to the only one I ever tried growing. These are cool temperature growing plants and mine took two years to die from SW Florida heat. Toward the end they looked just like your photo.

Possibly it has been dying for a long time or the increase in heat from your lights was just enough to push it over the edge.