Orchids from the internet

[electric.chowder]

I just ordered my first orchid off of the internet, it's a Maxillaria tenuifolium and was wondering if I should do anything special to it as soon as it arrives.

thanks

-chowder

[flowerchild]

Hi electric chowder, I have one, mine is growing just fine now!!! I have it in a bright window and water it about every 7-10 days for the winter. The fellow I bought it from told me if the leaves go yellow(like a banana) it is not getting enough light. Happy growing and enjoy the flowers when they grow cause they are supposed to smell like coconuts!!!! Flowerchild aka Cindy

[snowballsarebad]

Mine likes tons of water. Usually I soak it for 1-2 hours once or twice a week, depends on how dry it looks. However, it is a fairly large plant, having upwards of 30 or 40 pseudobulbs, and it is in bark that doesn't hold water too well. I also have one that is mounted that I divided from the original; it is doing very well that way, and I usually drop it in a bucket for 15 minutes almost every day.
If yours is not potted, that is, if you are receiving it bare-root, be sure to soak your medium before potting it.

[kmarch]

chowder,

Welcome to the wonderful world of Maxillaria! They're really cool unusual orchids. Before I address yoru question, I need to correct the name of your orchid. It is not tenuifolium, but rather tenufolia.

If I understand your question you're asking if there's anything in particular you should do with your new orchid as soon as it arrives. I recommend a few things:

1) Unpack it as soon as possible - for the most part orchids are really tough plants, even Paphs that have been lost in the mail have turned up in reasonably good condition after being in a box for as much as 2 weeks, but I still like to get them out and in fresh air as soon as I can.

2) Examine the plant carefully - are its leaves firm and of good colour? Are its pseudobulbs plump and firm? Is is potted securely? Sometimes shipping can unpot a plant or loosen the media from the roots. If you can see the roots, do they look healthy and undamaged? Are the roots plump and crisp? Some growers like to immediately repot into their favorite media so they can examine the roots thoroughly and so they can know how the media will respond to watering.

3) Water your plant if the media is dry - some sellers like to let plants dry out before shipping as it makes the shipment lighter and therefore cheaper to post.

4) Some growers like to leave a newly shipped plant in "gentler" conditions, namely not as bright light, no extremes in temperatures, etc. before introducing it to wherever the plant will grow long-term. Sometimes this is not possible if you are limited on space.

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Just a note to members - watering frequency depends heavily on a variety of factore such as temperature, humidity, potting or mounting media, air circulation, etc., etc. While one member may water their orchid once a week, another member with different conditions may find once-a-week watering disasterous. So it is therefore more useful to outline the cultural needs of a plant (e.g. "evenly moist," or "let dry before watering") or to outline your conditions rather than say something like "water once a week."

[electric.chowder]

My new 'chid arrived the other day! Some friends and I had a tea party out in the court yard for it's arrival (and because we were having 70 degree weather in jan.) and I carried a couple of my other orchids out for a welcoming committee

My max arrived safely and seems to be doing fine for now I'm looking forward to the coconut smelling flowers

-Chowder

[PhalPal]

Congratulations Chowder!! I have a Maxillaria elator and it now has two emerging flowers on it. Mine didn't send out a spike; the opening flowers just start to push themselves out from between the leaves. Very cool plant and it bloomed even though it rolled around on my front porch out of the pot in a very hot, dry wind in November. Go figure.

I just today received some plants from Oak Hill Gardens. I unwrapped them right away (who could wait??) and watered/misted with worm tea. Given our weather, I put them out on my patio in soft light and let them relax for the afternoon. A few were a little soft and by the time I brought them in they had perked up and are looking fine. I usually give them a few days before repotting. (I'm one of those!)

Enjoy your new addition and I love the idea of a tea party to welcome your orchid!

[fred]

Congrats I look forward to seeing some pics

[rmt135]

Congrats. After this experience I believe you will order more from the internet.

Hmmmm. Tea party for the 1st internet orchid. What will we all think next???