Inhabiting vast regions of Central and South America are the 300 or so evergreen, epiphytic or lithophytic species of Maxillaria. These are small- to mediumsize plants that vary greatly in structure. The majority produce pseudobulbs, which may be small and round, with a single, grass-like leaf (such as Maxillaria tenuifolia), or large and spectacular (such as M. sanderiana).
The latter, with its fleshy white, red-spotted flowers and triangular shape, resembles Lycaste, a genus into which most maxillarias were originally placed. Many of the species, and a very few hybrids, are grown. Of these, a number are often incorrectly named due to the similarity of some plants, which often cannot be told apart until they bloom.
Any number of the smaller-growing species are ideal beginners’ orchids. They have a great willingness to grow and flower under extreme conditions and are more tolerant of a hot, dry environment than many other orchids.
In cultivation, they should be disturbed as little as possible, and, when repotting becomes necessary, they can often be “dropped on” into a slightly larger pot without breaking up the root ball. In this way, most masdevallias can be grown on to form good-size clumps without becoming unmanageable. At this stage they are seen at their best and will provide a profusion of flowers during the summer months. A few species, such as Masdevallia tovarensis, will produce more of its milk-white flowers from the same stems for more than one year, provided you do not cut them off.
Annual repotting is often preferred for lycastes and anguloas because the plants quickly outgrow their containers. By removing the oldest pseudobulbs each time, plants can be kept to a moderate size. Where specimen plants are wanted, you can leave them to become really large. For these reasons, the hybrids are best contained in a greenhouse where they can be given sufficient headroom. If you are growing your orchids indoors where space is limited, try one or two of the smaller species among the lycastes such as Lycaste aromatica, which is deliciously scented and carries a profusion of golden yellow flowers in the spring, or L. skinneri, with its variable white to soft pink varieties. These plants will not grow much bigger than 30cm (12in) high when in leaf. Most of the 25 or so Lycaste species can be found in cultivation, alongside the numerous hybrids.
The species may be epiphytic, terrestrial or lithophytic, with most plants preferring shady situations in woodland. Lycastes are South American whose highest concentrations are ax Mexico and Peru. The anguloas a a small natural genus containing arms ten species, which exist rnaini,t a Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. their scarcity, only a few species az widely grown. More widely seen orchid collections are the angulocames, whose large, fleshy blooms are Mao (4in) wide. Temperature for the orchid is cool-growing (winter and intermediate-growing (summer). Grow in pots of bark-had compost (growing medium) in pots 25cm (10in) in diameter. In summc water and feed freely and maintain grad humidity (although excessive spraymg can cause leaf marks). Decrease wats=n; as the foliage begins to turn yellow zex water in winter only if the pseudobulm become dehydrated and shrivel. Give light shade in summer and full light in winter.
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