Maxillaria Sophronitis (Ornithidium Sophronitis) is a remarkable and spectacular botanical species, yet still enigmatic for growers. Although extremely easy to grow as it easily produces new growths under normal apartment conditions, flowering is most often sporadic and limited to isolated flowers that appear at irregular intervals.
From what is known so far, it seems that it prefers humidity and a cooler climate, compared to other species of the Maxillaria genus. Many enthusiasts prefer mounting the species on bark or cork plaques, and growing it in dense "beds" of specimens of considerable size, kept at low temperatures and strong light.
Native to northern Venezuela, Maxillaria Sophronitis is found in humid montane forests or at their edges, at altitudes of 760 - 1520 m, mainly along mountain ranges at the sea edge, but also far from beaches, in the continental area.
Maxillaria Sophronitis was first described by Leslie Andrew Garay in 1958.
A small-sized, even miniature taxon, forming compact masses of rhizomes and pseudobulbs, Maxillaria Sophronitis prefers cool to warm climates. With a height of up to 3.2 cm, with rhizomes wrapped in brown sheaths, bearing ovoid, compressed pseudobulbs, pale brown in color, 1.2 cm long, with 1 or 2 leaves arranged basally, and a solitary leaf inserted apically, about 2 cm long, leathery, oblong-elliptical, minutely apiculate. Flowers appear in autumn and early winter on 4 cm long basal stalks, on mature, unifoliate pseudobulbs, bearing solitary flowers; they measure 2.5 cm in diameter and can persist for 4 - 6 weeks. They display an impressive coloration, with a red-orange background on the perianth petals and a yellow-orange labellum, whose marginal areas are yellow-cream colored. The outer petals, broad and pointed, open wide, while the inner ones, relatively shorter and flattened at the tip, are inclined forward, framing a pale green column with white anthers.
Recommended light radiation level for this species is 18000 - 25000 lux, combined with the need to ensure efficient ventilation.
Growth temperature will be within a moderate range, with daytime values in the summer season of 24 - 25 ℃ with minimums of 14 - 16 ℃. In the winter season, temperatures of 26 - 27 ℃ during the day and minimums of 12 ℃ at night will be ensured.
Humidity required for efficient growth of the species is about 75 - 80% for almost the entire year, except for the period between late winter and early spring, when it needs to be reduced to 60 - 65%.
The easiest way to grow the species is by mounting it on trunks or bark or cork plaques, which favors the typical rapid propagation of this taxon, but this cultivation method requires frequent watering, at least once a day during summer. When grown in pots, baskets or pots with abundant perforations are preferred, equipped with substrate with efficient drainage and low compaction, such as coconut fiber, fine-grain pine bark, possibly mixed with perlite or pumice stone. Changing the substrate, the growing container, and dividing can be done as soon as new growth appears.
Irrigation will be administered abundantly during the active growth period, but will be significantly and gradually reduced as the autumn season begins.
Fertilization will be done weekly at concentrations of 25 - 50% of the recommended dose, using a fertilizer with a high nitrogen concentration from spring until mid-summer, then replaced with one rich in phosphorus, starting from the second half of summer until autumn.
The resting period will be ensured in winter, when watering will be reduced, but without allowing the substrate to dry out completely; fertilization will also be reduced, possibly even stopped, until returning to the current watering schedule.
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