Question
Hi Ms Melissa,

  I repotted my Maxillaria tenuifoli 1 month ago and replaced its old set of potting medium(charcoal) with a new set(charcoal). I trimmed away most of the roots as they were extensively grown around the base of the pot. The problem is, to date, my Maxillaria tenuifoli bulbs remain shrivelled and thin. I heavily misted the orchid in the morning daily and occasionally give it a nitrogen strong fertilizer but the condition does not improve. I also notice that the roots look blackish and the the entire root system does not seem to develop after repotting. How should I remedy the issue?

Answer
Dear Alfredo, I always enjoy your thoughtful and challenging questions.  You must be quite a gardener and you have many plants that I am especially fond of.  The Maxillaria tenufolia or Coconut Orchid is a beautiful plant and I love the scented orchids.  One thing that I noticed was your choice of potting media.  The orchid should do much better if grown in a mixture of fir bark and lava rock.  The charcoal may actually be responsible for the blackened roots.  Try repotting it, and be sure to press down fairly hard on the plant while potting because orchids like to be firmly anchored.  You can also tie it in.  When repotting, try to keep as many roots as you can, although you usually have to cut a few to be able to get it out.  Also the Maxillaria tenufolia is one of those orchids that require cooler temperatures at night, around 50-65 degrees Fahrenheit.  This may be hard for you given your location, but see if you can provide it with a cool night time environment.  I hope this information helps you.  Good luck, Melissa