My Milt Bert Fields is ill! Advice or sympathy?

[kikitastrophe]

Hello! I am new to this board, but I loved what I've read so far. In fact, I took my sick looking Milt and repotted it in a smaller pot and added some spagnum moss as well as moved it to less sunny place based on what I've read here. Pictures are here:





Do you think the pot is too small? It seems pretty small to me, maybe I over did it. Any other advice is really appreciated. I uploaded pictures of my other, more happy orchids to my album. Hopefully I will save this one - I got it in Hawaii and I haven't lost any from the group I got there yet....

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Miltoniopsis will rot when grown in full sphagnum moss.

The plant doesn't look like it will pull through. If I'm not mistaken one the green pseudobulbs is already showing signs of being waterlogged and may soon rot from the base. The new shoot also looks like it's standing on it's own, which means it won't be long before that one goes too (it's too young to stand alone like that, usually something that small has to stay attached to the older pseudobulb that produced it).

My recommendation is to start over.

Miltoniopsis in general are cool to intermediate growers that can tolerate temperatures that go down to the low 50's F and mid 80's F, anything above the mid 80's F and you have to try and keep it cooler while possibly watering more.

Good air circulation is important for this plant as it like to be watered quite a bit. Stale air doesn't allow the media to dry out fast enough and suffocates the roots (orchids breathe mainly from their roots).

When watering, allow it to dry out completely before watering again.

Small wood chips is good enough for the media.

Lighting should be medium bright (semi-shade).

It's a shame there's a good chance you'll lose the plant. Pansy orchids are not necessarily the showiest or the weirdest, but they have a nice charm of their own. And they're fragrant!

There, how 'bout that! Both advice and sympathy!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

BTW if you didn't know already, don't allow any amount of water to sit in the tray underneath the pot. Leaving an orchid in standing water for long periods of time is an invitation for root rot to happen.

[kikitastrophe]

So it's in the same wood/charcol mix I use for my other orchids, the moss is just on top to maybe help retain a little moisture - I added that today. I think the problem was that it needs to be watered daily instead of every 5-7 days like the rest of my orchids?

[WhiteRabbit]

In my experience milts like to be moist but not water logged - I live in a climate with low daytime humidity and do water milts more often than my other potted orchids. What has worked best for me is coconut husk chips with perlite. In bark, yes it may need to be watered more. However the foliage on the plant is not pleated so I don't know that underwatering is the problem.

If the roots fit in the pot then the pot is not too small. Smaller is better than bigger
I try to pot mine in the smallest pot the roots will fit into allowing room for some media. When in doubt use the smaller pot, especially for an ailing plant.

Good luck!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by kikitastrophe

So it's in the same wood/charcol mix I use for my other orchids, the moss is just on top to maybe help retain a little moisture - I added that today. I think the problem was that it needs to be watered daily instead of every 5-7 days like the rest of my orchids?

They need more water than once every 5 to 7 days, but not everyday.

I guess the moss on top is fine. Again, you must allow it to completely dry out between waterings or the roots rot.

[kikitastrophe]

Thanks a bunch for your advice AND sympathy!! I will keep this thread updated with what becomes of my poor plant...

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

They need more water than once every 5 to 7 days, but not everyday.

I guess the moss on top is fine. Again, you must allow it to completely dry out between waterings or the roots rot.

I don't know about that
I do not allow mine to dry out ever. In fact right now even in cocohusk chips I spray the top of the media everyday. In clear pots so I can see the roots and they look great
AOS | Miltonia

Water must be plentiful and the medium must drain perfectly. In their native habitat, the plants are drenched almost daily and, because of this, they are intolerant of salt buildup, so leaching every fourth or fifth watering is important when growing in pots. When they are not getting enough water or humidity, the leaves have a tendency to grow with accordion-like pleats. The warmer-growing miltonias should be grown like cattleyas; allow them to approach dryness between waterings. They also tend to be slightly more tolerant of salt buildup than their Colombian cousins so they can dry more between waterings.

My experience - even the miltonias (warmer and 'dryer' than miltoniopsis) need to stay moister than catts

tho - your plant does not seem to have pleated foliage so your watering may be suffiecient

[kikitastrophe]

I am admittedly very beginner on orchids - but I feel like the little tiny shoot does have some pleating in its leaves, at least, it looks pleatish to me - but I've never seen pleating before so I don't have a lot of experience to go on.... I definitely just started watering it more.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by kikitastrophe

I am admittedly very beginner on orchids - but I feel like the little tiny shoot does have some pleating in its leaves, at least, it looks pleatish to me - but I've never seen pleating before so I don't have a lot of experience to go on.... I definitely just started watering it more.

could be - hard to tell from the pic.
I have bamboo skewers in all my pots to check the 'moistness' - how did the roots look when you repotted?