Maxillaria Sophronitis (Ornithidium Sophronitis), is a special and spectacular botanical species, but still enigmatic for growers. Although extremely easy to grow as it easily produces new growth in normal apartment conditions, flowering is mostly 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 boards, and growing it in the form of dense "beds", of specimens of considerable size, kept at low temperatures and strong light.

Native to the north of Venezuela, Maxillaria Sophronitis is found in humid mountain forests or on their edge, at altitudes of 760 - 1520 m, mainly along the mountain ranges at the edge of the sea, but also far from the beaches, in the continental area.

Maxillaria Sophronitis was first described by Leslie Andrew Garay in 1958.

A small, 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, pale brown pseudobulbs, 1.2 cm long, with 1 or 2 leaves arranged basally, and a solitary leaf inserted apical, about 2 cm long, coriaceous, oblong-elliptic, minutely apiculate. The flowers appear in autumn and early winter on 4 cm long basal stems, on mature, unifoliate pseudobulbs, bearing solitary flowers; they measure 2.5 cm in diameter and can persist up to 4 - 6 weeks. It presents an impressive color, with an orange-red background on the petals of the perianth and with a yellow-orange labellum, whose marginal areas are colored yellow-cream. The outer petals, broad, pointed, open wide, and the inner ones, relatively shorter and beveled at the tip, are tilted forward, framing a pale green column with white anthers.

The level of light radiation recommended for this species is 18,000 - 25,000 lux, but associated with the need to ensure efficient ventilation.

The growing temperature will fall within a moderate register, with daytime values ​​in the summer season of 24 - 25 ℃ with minimums of 14 - 16 ℃. During the winter season, temperatures of 26 - 27 ℃ will be ensured during the day and a minimum of 12 ℃ during the night.

The humidity required for the effective growth of the species is approximately 75 - 80% for almost the entire year, except for the period between the end of winter and the beginning of spring, when it is necessary to reduce it to 60 - 65%.

The easiest way to grow the species is by mounting it on trunks or plates of bark or cork, an aspect that favors the rapid propagation typical of this taxon, but this way of culture involves the application of frequent irrigation, at least once a day during the summer . In the case of cultivation in pots, baskets or pots with abundant perforations, provided with a substrate with efficient drainage and weak compaction, such as coconut fiber, small-grained pine bark, possibly mixed with perlite or pumice stone, will be preferred. The change of the substrate, the culture container and the division can be done as soon as the appearance of new growth is observed.

Irrigation will be administered abundantly during the period of active growth, but will be significantly reduced gradually with the entry into the autumn season.

Fertilization will be carried out weekly at concentrations of 25 - 50% of the recommended dose, using a fertilizer with a high concentration of nitrogen from spring to mid-summer, later replacing it with one rich in phosphorus, starting with the second half of summer and until autumn.

The resting period will be ensured in the winter, when watering will be reduced, but without allowing the substrate to dry completely; at the same time, fertilization will also be reduced, possibly even opting for its cessation, until the return to the current watering scheme.

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