Maxillaria uncata is widespread from the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico, through Central and South America, to Brazil and Peru. In Guatemala, they grow epiphytically on trees and shrubs growing over marshes, dense tropical forests or dry pine forests, at altitudes up to 1200 m...
Maxillaria uncata also called as The Hook Shaped Maxillaria, Camaridium squamatum, Camaridium uncatum, Christensonella squamata, Christensonella uncata, Maxillaria nana, Maxillaria squamata, Maxillaria stenostele, Maxillaria striatella, Ornithidium nanum, Ornithidium squamata, is a species of the genus Maxillaria. This species was described by John Lindley in 1837.
IDENTIFY MAXILLARIA UNCATA
Maxillaria uncata is widespread from the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico, through Central and South America, to Brazil and Peru. In Guatemala, they grow epiphytically on trees and shrubs growing over marshes, dense tropical forests or dry pine forests, at altitudes up to 1200 m. They are found in the provinces of Alta Verapaz south of Cubliguitz and near Coban; in the province of Izabal at Cerro San Gil, along the Rio Frio river and near the city of Izabal, as well as in the province of Peten near Libertad. In Honduras, all the plants encountered were harvested in the lowlands near the Caribbean coast. In Nicaragua, they were found in several locations in the Jingtega department at heights of 1200-1300 m, in Chotales at an altitude of 500-600 m, in Rio San Juan at an altitude of 1100 m. In Costa Rica, they are found in numerous locations, usually at low altitudes, but there are known cases of finding these plants even at an altitude of 1500 m. In Panama they occur in several places in the canal zone at the level of the sea level, in the province of Panama at altitudes from the sea level up to approx. 200 m, in the province of Colon at an altitude of 30 m, and in the province of Cocle on the hills to the north of El Vlle de Anton at an altitude of 600-1000 m. In Venezuela, they are found in BolÃvar along the RÃo Icabarú River, where they grow on trees on the banks of water reservoirs at an altitude of about 460 m, and along the Rio Chicanan river at 360 meters above sea level.
It is a hot to cool growing, small scadent epiphyte with a 1.1 cm long and 0.26 cm in diameter, pendulous stem that has a fusiform-cylindrical, sulcate with age pseudobulb with a solitary semi-terete, 5.5 cm long and 0.4 cm wide leaf.
The Hook Shaped Maxillaria has a short, lateral, subsessile, single flowered inflorescence with subtending scarious sheaths held close into the leaves and occurs through the late spring, summer, fall and winter months. The bell-shaped flowers have a length of about 1.0 cm, and their elements do not faint. The translucent petals of both whorls are pale yellow with 3 pink, fuzzy strands along the veins. The lip is also translucent, light yellow with a pink spot in the middle, which includes 3 dark pink lines. The spine is pale, yellowish-white with a pink spot at the base and below the mark.
MAXILLARIA UNCATA CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Maxillaria uncata needs a light level of 15000-23000 lux. The light should be filtered or dispersed, and the plants should not be exposed directly to the sun in the afternoon hours. Strong air movement should be ensured all the time.
Temperature:
It is a thermophilic plant. Throughout the year, the average day temperature is 28-30 ° C, and the average night temperature is 16-18 ° C, with a daily amplitude of 11-13 ° C.
Humidity:
The Hook Shaped Maxillaria needs the humidity of about 80% for most of the year, falling to nearly 75% for 2-3 months in late winter and early spring.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Maxillaria uncata can be grown in containers with good drainage, but due to their creeping habit, it is better to fix them on pieces of tree fern with high humidity, and during hot and dry weather they may require several waterings during the day.
They can be grown in pots or baskets filled with a tight, airy, fast drying ground. When the plants are grown in pots, for their climbing habit it will be good to use tree fern supports inserted in or attached to the container. Many growers use medium-grain fir bark or chopped tree fern fibers mixed with pearlite chips to improve substrate permeability and retain moisture. Charcoal maintains good permeability of the substrate and prevents its acidification.
The plants should be repotted immediately after noticing signs of substrate decomposition, or every few years when the plant grows out of the pot. It's best to do it when new roots start growing. If repotting is carried out when new increments begin to appear, the plant will be accepted and rooted in the shortest possible time.
Watering:
Maxillaria uncata should be frequently watered during intensive growth, but the outflow of water must be facilitated and the substrate around the roots should always be loose, with easy access of air. After reaching new levels, the amount of water should be slightly reduced, but it should not be allowed to dry out completely.
Fertilizer:
During the active growth, the plant should be fertilized every week 1/4-1/2 of the recommended dose of fertilizer for orchids. You can use balanced fertilizer throughout the year, but also can use fertilizer with increased nitrogen content from spring to mid summer, and then in the late summer and autumn, use a fertilizer with a higher content of phosphorus.
Rest period:
In winter, the amount of water should be slightly reduced, especially if Maxillaria uncata are grown in a dark, short day, which occurs in moderate latitudes, but the plants should never be completely devoid of water. Fertilization should be reduced or eliminated until new growths appear and a more abundant spring watering begins.
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