What is wrong with my Miltoniopsis?

[camille1585]

Lucky you that there ws no moss! I have yet to buy an Onc type plant that doesn't have the sphag core...

[silken]

Hopefully you checked inside the very core of the roots for old moss as Camille has had bad experience with this in Europe. As Rosie mentioned, and I am concerned as you mentioned giving the roots more room, most orchids, including Milts should be under-potted allowing just enough room for the roots or a tiny bit more space for new growth. It helps prevent root rot. Milts in particular really hate stale potting media and it is recommended to re-pot every year. They sometimes have a second less vigorous flowering in late summer or fall, but unless you have almost mature new growths, I wouldn't hold my breath!

[Fuggs]

Hi Silken
Thanks for that informative reply. You got me concerned SO......Maybe risky but as the blooms are dropping nothing to lose. I unpotted it and carefully stripped out the old media and right in the middle of the root ball tucked up high under the plant.. guess what...yep a moss ball, brown and ucky. Having checked it all carefully in light of what you guys have said, it looks as if the roots arent that good. A lot of them are brown, a few green ones. Hopefully have attached some pics. I will repot in the same pot it came in, i.e. smaller than the new one and in similar bark media, new mix. Question. Presume the brown roots are ok?

Thanks Fuggs

[camille1585]

I've lost 5-6 Milts from the moss ball. The only one I saved is one that I potted in S/H. It hardly had any roots, but within weeks it started new growths, which rooted very well. Now, 8 months later I see lots of healthy roots in the pot and it's growing and growing.

[RosieC]

Brown roots are not a problem (they could just be stained by the medium), but hollow/mushy ones that just fall to pieces with the slightest handling are.

How do they feel if you just gently handle them?

[Fuggs]

Originally Posted by RosieC

Brown roots are not a problem (they could just be stained by the medium), but hollow/mushy ones that just fall to pieces with the slightest handling are.

How do they feel if you just gently handle them?

They feel ok. sort of stiff stringy, not mushy, and some green ones at the top.
So dont trim?
Thanks

[RosieC]

If they are firm like you describe then they are good.

[silken]

From the pics, it looks like you have some firm tan coloured ones. As mentioned, anything slimy or squishy is dead. If it feels firm but stringy I would keep it. It will help to anchor the plant if nothing more. God luck, glad you found the dreaded moss ball!

[Fuggs]

Thanks for all your help. Greatly appreciated. Now looking at S/H.....seems to take the guess work out of a lot of things including watering.

[NatalieS]

Just something I noticed in your first set of pictures - there's a radiator behind the table the orchids are on. Do you ever turn it on? If so, where the milt looks currently positioned at the back of the table just above the radiator could be a bit too warm for it. Miltoniopsis like cooler conditions so the extra warmth might have caused the blooms to wilt as james mentioned earlier.

If you don't turn the radiator on then disregard my comment!