We haven’t featured this interesting little species on 365 days before. It is another reliable winter flowerer and at its best this week.

This species is closely related to one of our favourites Maxillaria praestans (below) which flowers in the summer. Maxillaria meleagris is a little smaller growing with smaller flowers but makes a lovely plant even when small.

Maxillaria meleagris is native to cool forests in Mexico and Guatemala from 1500-2400m but we find that it is equally at home in both our Cool Americas and our Warm Americas section. We keep plants watered all year and find they enjoy shade and are very happy growing on benches under some of our hanging plants (such as Cattleyas) that like higher light levels.

We have found that several of our orchid growing friends find plants from this group of Maxillarias well suited to windowsill culture, so perhaps this is a species to add to your wish list.