miltoniposis

[jefflieber]

i have miltoniposis whic is dying. the leaves are turning yellow and the buds fell off. i just repoted it. it seams as if the pot is still small can i divide it? how do i save it

thanks

jeff

[RJSquirrel]

hello jeff, right down to bidness. It needs enough watering to stay moist all the time to start with. Miltoniopsis are cool growers also, and shouldn't be outside in the heat or in a hot window. They can take plenty of light with good strong airflow, but no heat at all. Have to be kept cool or its death for them. The leaves are yellow and buds drop as it got too dry and hot maybe. Yes its dying and trying to save itself dropping parts. I wouldn't divide it right now, water it and let it recover. They like to be tight in the pots, the smallish roots are tender and need lots of friends for comfort.
I would use sphagnum to re-pot and soak it down. You cant water bark enough right now if thats what you used. Use some good balanced fertilizer 1/4 strength every time you water for the next few weeks to help it along. You can also add some KLN or Superthrive for some vitamins in your water. Let Us see pics of how you are doing

[jefflieber]

thank you very much. when i repot it in the sphagnum should i repot it in a clay pot or plastic. right noe it's in a clay pot. thanks again

jeff

[RJSquirrel]

clay is fine and will keep the plant cooler too

[jefflieber]

thank you

[RosieC]

Sounds like some good advice. I've just moved this thread to the Beginner area as you are likely to get more people seeing it there and could get some more good advice

[jefflieber]

thank you so what is your advise if any?

[RosieC]

I'm not good on miltoniopsis I'm afraid I have one that seems to be surviving by chance. My other one died. I don't grow mine in the recommended temps at all, I don't water it enough and the leaves are terribly pleated as a result.

I've had regular bud blast (buds falling off before the open) and not really know why so can't advise on that. One thing I would say on the leaves is that sometimes the older ones do yellow and fall. The older p-bulbs on mine lost all their outer leaves just leaving the ones on top of the p-bulb. This didn't seem to harm it and others here on the board said it was normal.

[silken]

The outer leaves do slowly turn pale yellow and fall off before the centre leaf. Eventually it goes too leaving a bare pseudobulb that will help support the rest of the plant for quite a while. Mine seem to do OK with lots of humidity, cool temps and moving air. They should never completely dry out. But RosieC, I never let mine dry and I still get the occasional wrinkled leaf. It seems hard to completely avoid! And I think some are more prone to it than others. They can withstand short bouts of temps in the 80's or 90F so long as they can be cooled thru the night to recover and get the humidity and moving air.

[RosieC]

Interesting to know that you also get wrinkled leaves. Mine are VERY pleated and I do think I need to water more, but I will be aware that I might not ever get new growths to come out completely straight.