Miltassia shelob

[clusty]

Hey,

I got this miltassia a few months back by post and it was not the happiest plant in the world. Since then a new growth popped up together with tons of roots. Since about a week or so a leaf started turning yellow.

Is there anything wrong with it (too much sun), or I should not read too much into it?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

It's an old leaf. Those kinds of leaves almost always die back first.

I don't know how often you water, but it could use a bit more water.

Btw, if you want your Miltassia to look nicer, I highly recommend pointing the new growths towards the light source. You don't have to, but it's just a little aesthetic tip.

Since your Miltassia is an intergeneric hybrid of the natural genus Miltonia and Brassia, the proper way to write your orchid's name is Miltassia Shelob to denote that it is a hybrid. In fact, a few people might get up in arms and say, "Why are you being the orchid name police?", either seriously or in a half joking manner. Right now, it's easy to just dismiss this taxonomy rule because it's pretty clear to people that the name is the name of a hybrid. Wait until you start finding hybrids with species looking names and I think you're likely to gonna want to obey those taxonomy rules by correctly writing those names out. It's going to be very difficult, (or rather, I should say, extremely confusing), to get the proper information down if people throw these rules out the window.

[clusty]

Thanks.
Those bulbs were shrivelled to start with when I received it. I don't think I can re-plump them by watering.

[james mickelso]

Thesen pbulbs and new growth look just like a Miltassia Shelob should. Wrinkled. They won't re-plump. They are giving up their stored starches and sugars to the new growth before the new growth has put on roots. There's nothing wrong with the plant. Be careful not to over water this plant. Milts have a fine root system and like to get wet and then dry out almost completely before watering again especially if the humidity is high. Kind of a big pot though. but I like the larger size media here. Helps maintain even moisture. You should get a spike in the fall. Too small for multiple spikes. Milts don't like to be repotted very often and they get grumpy when you do repot them.

[clusty]

It is potted in coco chunks. I squeeze one from the top and when it stops oozing I wait for a day and re-drench.

[WhiteRabbit]

That yellowing leaf is bract foliage. They don't hold on to those long after blooming and new growth.

I use skewers in my orchid pots to gauge when to water. It's been extremely helpful to me.