Maxillaria tenuifolia, a botanical species that finds its place in any orchid collection, was discovered near Veracruz, Mexico, by Karl Theodore Hartweg, and described by John Lindley (February 5, 1799 - November 1, 1865, English botanist, horticulturist, and orchidologist) in 1837.
Young plants remain compact but can also be grown as impressive specimens in relatively short periods of time. Due to the foliage resembling blades of grass, Maxillaria tenuifolia is an attractive houseplant species even outside the flowering period. Its common name "Coconut Orchid" alludes to the strong scent of the flowers, which resembles the aroma of coconuts.
Due to its considerable geographical distribution, Maxillaria tenuifolia easily adapts to a wide range of environmental conditions. Taxonomically, the genus has undergone major changes compared to how it was known for a long time. A new classification system was proposed by PhD. Mark Whitten and Mario Blanco in the February 2011 issue of ORCHIDS Magazine (The Orchid Review), the Bulletin of the American Orchid Society, in an attempt to clarify the relationships of this very comprehensive and diverse genus. Thus, the genus name of the species was changed to Maxillariella, while the species name remained intact. Accepted synonyms are Maxillaria gracilifolia Kraenzel 1927; Maxillariella tenuifolia (Lindl.) M.A. Blanco & Carnevali 2007. Plants with solitary leaves, epiphytic or occasionally terrestrial, with an ascending growth habit, reaching up to 60 cm in height, are found on trees in open or dense forest areas at altitudes up to 1500 m. They have a rhizome completely covered by overlapping non-foliar bracts, with oblong-elliptic to oblong-ovate pseudobulbs, laterally compressed, 2-6 cm long and 1-2 cm wide, with a single apical, linear, tapered leaf.
The 5 cm long flower stalks, covered with basal bracts, emerge from mature pseudobulbs and bear single flowers that rise to about half the length of the leaf. Blooming occurs in spring and summer, and afterwards the plants require a period of vegetative rest during the winter months, during which watering is drastically reduced. The delicate, solitary, fragrant flowers measuring 3.9 - 4 cm, red in color but bearing yellow or brown spots that form a pattern reminiscent of leopard fur, may vary slightly in color, but generally, the petals have a marbled dark red and light red or dark yellow coloration.
The concave labellum (lip) is dark, blood-red from the base to almost halfway along its length, while the apical part is dark yellow with pigmentation formed of purplish red or reddish brown spots.
Maxillaria tenuifolia primarily belongs to the lowland areas of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, at altitudes up to 1500 m, in tropical forests with deciduous or partially deciduous tree species, and sometimes in ravines of warm oak forests.
Cultivated at temperatures above 10 ºC, both day and night, it belongs to the intermediate to warm thermal range. As a general rule, however, it is a thermophilic species, preferring an average temperature in summer days around 28 - 29 °C, and 19 °C on warm nights. In the cold season, the recommended daytime temperature is 23 - 24 °C, with minimums of 13 - 15 °C at night.
Maxillaria tenuifolia requires light intensities of 15000 - 20000 lux, but prefers filtered or diffused light, associated with air currents. In terms of light intensity, Maxillaria tenuifolia requires the same conditions as species of the genera Cattleya and Phalaenopsis.
Air humidity must not drop below 50%, and its average should be around 80% throughout the year, with the use of humidifiers or trays with gravel and water being extremely useful in this regard. In its natural habitat, the species receives abundant water during the rainy season, but December marks the beginning of the dry season, which lasts until May. During this period, when grown indoors, watering should be reduced to allow the growing medium to dry out before applying a new water supplement. However, some authors recommend reducing watering between November and March.
As a general rule, it will be ensured that the plant's pseudobulbs do not shrivel visibly and rapidly. It is possible to water the plants at intervals of 2-3 weeks. A basic rule for easy and successful cultivation of the Maxillaria tenuifolia species is ensuring adequate humidity and efficient aeration.
The growing substrate recommended for Maxillaria tenuifolia is similar to that used for species of the genera Cattleya and Phalaenopsis, consisting of medium to large grain bark, dried ferns, and other similar materials, ensuring abundant moistening of these during the growth period. It can ideally be mounted on pieces of bark or can be grown in wooden or plastic baskets.
It is necessary to add a charcoal amendment to the growing substrate to prevent its acidification and to increase its permeability to air. During active growth, weekly fertilizations with orchid fertilizers will be applied, at dilutions of 25% - 50% of the recommended dose. At the beginning of the year, when the intensive growth period starts, fertilizers with a high nitrogen content can be applied, and towards the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, a fertilizer with a high phosphorus content will be chosen to stimulate flowering.
The resting period in winter will be represented by limiting watering, without allowing the upper part of the substrate to dry out excessively. At the same time, fertilization will be limited or stopped, to be resumed along with the restart of watering.
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