What is wrong with my Miltoniopsis?

[Fuggs]

Thanks for all coming back to me, most appreciated.
Let me give quick run down of the situation. I live in a 1600 cottage, so the windows are small and light levels seem low, the two windows face east and west. The room is heated by a oil fired Aga, like a cooking range. There are no oil smells, its all sealed.
The orchids were repotted as I was instructed to, and with Orchid potting media, seems like bark chips. They were placed in a bucket of rainwater for about 10 minutes with a about 10 drops of proper orchid feed in 1 gallon or so.. Repotting was done in a clear plastic pot, with a good covering of washed gravel in the bottom. All the roots looked green and good, no dark mushy bits at all. They were then allowed to drain, and now stand in plastic saucers, in a humidity tray facing a west window.
I attach some pics, and can supply more if required.

Thanks Fuggs

[keithrs]

My experience with Milt. Is that they hate water to sit inbetween the leaves.... They tend to rot easy.

[silken]

It sounds and looks like the plant should be fine. I would never re-pot a Miltoniopsis in the middle of it blooming. I think that could contribute to its losing the blooms if it was before their time. I would wait until after, provided there are new growths with some roots started. Otherwise I would only re-pot right after blooming if the plant is in dire need of it. I would re-pot a Phal that I just bought right away as they don't seem to care, but a number of other orchids don't want a re-pot while in spike or bloom.

[camille1585]

European Miltoniopsis are best repotted ASAP actually. The vast majority are potted in bark, but with a tight sphag ball at the center of the roots. Root rot guaranteed if not repotted the second you get the plant through the door.

[silken]

Originally Posted by camille1585

European Miltoniopsis are best repotted ASAP actually. The vast majority are potted in bark, but with a tight sphag ball at the center of the roots. Root rot guaranteed if not repotted the second you get the plant through the door.

Oh ya, I forgot that I had read about some of those situations. Yes, in that case if there is danger of root rot, always re-pot ASAP! You can always enjoy the blooms next time as your plant will have been saved from death by root rot

[james mickelso]

They naturally were fired by wood or coal as that is the dominant fuel in the UK and a lot of europe in general. Here in the US we used coal in the east but as the US grew it did so at the turn of the century as petrolium was gaining in popularity and availability so we didn't have stoves like that after the 1900's. I'll bet it is warm as toast on frosty evenings.

[Fuggs]

Originally Posted by silken

Oh ya, I forgot that I had read about some of those situations. Yes, in that case if there is danger of root rot, always re-pot ASAP! You can always enjoy the blooms next time as your plant will have been saved from death by root rot

Ok, let me get this straight, so repotting it has probably caused the flowers to drop, but by giving it more root room and stopped any possible root rot?
Should I remove the spike now and any ideas how long another flower spike would take to appear?
Thanks

[camille1585]

Yes, repotting ptobably killed the bloomed, but saved the plant, if you found a sphag wad when you removed the old mix.
Unless there is a nearly mature growth that could spike soon, I think you have to wait until next spring for blooms. I'm not sure that they bloom several times a year.

[RosieC]

Just something I thought should be clarified, when repotting did you remove all existing medium?

With other types of plants it's normal to leave the medium and just add more on the outside. With Orchids that's not the case and the reason for repotting is more to remove the old medium than to change the pot size. This tends to be assumed by those who have done it before, but I remember not realising it until I had watched some instruction videos on repotting orchids.

Just wanted to check. However assuming you did do that, then I agree with the comments above, it might have caused the flowers to drop but likely saved the plant as every one I've seen in the UK has had that ball of sphag at the centre while being potted in bark on the outside.

[Fuggs]

Thank you all.
I did remove all the old medium and re pot with new. The roots were all spiralled around inside the pot like a thick ball. didn't notice any moss however.
Shame about losing the flowers, they smelled wonderful.
Thanks again to all for your advice.
Fuggs