Maxillaria tenuifolia aka Coconut Orchid

Maxillaria tenuifolia is an orchid known as the coconut orchid. It grows wild from Mexico through Central America. Its home has a wet tropical climate. It grows as an epiphyte, using other plants for support. This orchid keeps its leaves year-round. It suits growing indoors, in conservatories, and in greenhouses. Its flowers smell of coconut, which gives the plant its common name.

The plant forms clumps of small, oval pseudobulbs, or swollen stems. These grow along a long rhizome, a stem that links them. The rhizome stands upright or hangs down. Thin, dry bracts cover it. Each pseudobulb has one long, narrow leaf with a linear shape. Leaves can reach about 1.6 feet [0.5 metres] long. They stay slim, at about 0.02 feet [0.007 metres] wide. Plants in cultivation reach 0.3–1.6 feet [0.1–0.5 metres] tall and wide. They take about five to ten years to reach full size.

Flowers grow near the base of mature pseudobulbs in spring and summer. Each short flower stem holds just one bloom. The stems reach about 0.16 feet [0.05 metres] long. Most blooms are red, but some are yellow. Each measures about 0.1–0.16 feet [0.03–0.05 metres] across. The blooms give off a scent like coconut. The leaves arch, and the growth hangs down. Both add interest when the plant has no blooms.

Give this orchid bright light, but keep direct sun off it. Use a loose orchid mix based on bark that drains well. The mix can include perlite, sphagnum moss, or coir. Aim for 18–20°C by day and 14–16°C at night. Water well when the mix has almost dried. Then let it drain. Use orchid feed during the growing season. The RHS lists neutral pH and a hardiness rating of H1B. In Britain, this means it can grow outdoors in summer. It does not mean year-round outdoor planting.

The plant needs no pruning, and disease seldom causes problems. Wet, soggy mix and poor airflow can raise the risk of bacterial infection. Watch for aphids and red spider mites. Scale insects and mealybugs can also occur. Divide crowded, mature plants in early or mid-spring. Keep at least three or four healthy, older pseudobulbs in each part. Their stored reserves help new growth after repotting. Growing plants from seed needs controlled conditions in a lab. The supplied sources give no evidence of edible uses or toxicity.