Miltoniopsis leaves limp and folding

[The Orchid Kid]

wow 115 is crazy....must be tough keeping orchids happy in that heat?

[kindrag23]

lots of little plates with hydroton and water 1-2 times a day, sometimes I even wet spagh and stick it on a plate out there to help with the humidity.

[silken]

Originally Posted by The Orchid Kid

haha, well I'd like to see the odd 100 day myself. 80 in the NE of England is a very rare thing!

One has a transparent pot and roots seem ok, but scant. The other has a coloured pot - could I take it out and have a look or is it not a good time to inspect?

I might have been shy with the water, but I don't think I ever let them go very dry

If you just re-potted them recently, I don't know if I would disturb it. You could try some kelp added to your watering occasionally to help encourage root growth. These like a cool moist atmosphere with good air movement. I used to do a lot better with them than I do now and I really don't know what has changed. They have fine roots which can rot easily which I have a bit of an issue with. It seems if they can cool off at night, they will better tolerate temps in the 80's during the day. No direct sun but indirect bright light seems to work. Their leaves should be a rather pale green.

[RosieC]

Have you looked at the roots... more than that have you looked at the centre of the roots?

Miltoniopsis in Europe are sold with a moss ball in the centre of the root mass (with bark on the outside).

If you don't know it's there you can over water easily because the bark dies, but not the moss in the centre.

My one that did well for me for several years had good roots anyway (masses could hardly get into the mass of them) and coped until I repotted and got rid of it. My first one though had an average root system which then succumbed to rot due to this wodge of soggy moss.

---------- Post added at 02:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:58 PM ----------

Originally Posted by kindrag23

lots of little plates with hydroton and water 1-2 times a day, sometimes I even wet spagh and stick it on a plate out there to help with the humidity.

Sorry to disagree, but 'humidity trays' like this actually do little to raise humidity in a room, and even less outdoors.

The humid air just dropps as soon as it reaches the edge of the plate. The humid air sits at floor level until there is enough of it to raise up... you just can't get enough water in a saucer (or even a few saucers) to raise humidity. Folks have done tests with humidity meters to prove that just a few cm above a 'humidity tray' there is barely any difference.

They work in an enclosed area, such as when people grow in tanks, because the humid air fills the tank before spilling over the edge. Basically you need raised sides and the plants within those sides to make it have an affect.

To get proper raising of humidity you need some sort of humidifier that pumps more significant amounts into the air.

[The Orchid Kid]

Yeah we always get the moss ball from the less pro nurseries. I got rid of that and repotted straight away this spring. Could be the quite warm nights maybe...

The leaves have lost their pale green and are darker and less stiff. Maybe I lost some roots and they are in recovery. Will edge them out the pots and take a look

[NYCorchidman]

It is not due to heat at all. Miltoniopsis have bad reputation as cool grower, but they do just fine in the summer heat of 80s or even in the 90s.
Mine all grew like weeds last summer!

Your issue of their leaves is definitely underwatering.
They need to be kept moist at all times otherwise there will arise all sorts of problems.

[The Orchid Kid]

I teased them out of the pots yesterday for a peep at the roots and most of the roots are a light brown colour and a few slightly squishy. Is this the first stage of rot? What colour should they be and how firm should they feel. The medium at the bottom of the pot was quite damp.

I am not totally sure I am looking at under watering....maybe the opposite?

many thanks for all the advice so far everyone!

[silken]

If they are squishy they are likely rotting. New roots are white but they can be healthy and still be brown as they age and pick up staining from bark and other types of media. But squishy or mushy is not good. I sometimes find it hard to keep Milts moist and not dry or wet. I don't have much luck with CHC which stays too wet in the interior of the pot for me over my cool winters in the greenhouse. But others like it. I would use bark and a bit of moss, but everyone's growing conditions are different.

It might help to put something chunky in the bottom like charcoal or leca (clay) balls for good drainage. Make sure they don't sit in water. Using some kelp (seaweed) enhances root growth really well on some orchids but I haven't found as obvious affect on my MIlts as I have on some like Cattleyas. It wouldn't hurt tho and likely would help.

Maybe someone else will have better advice. I have a few Milts and used to do quite well with them, but they have been going downhill for me so I haven't found all the answers either. Heat will definitely stress them especially if they are not in prime condition in the first place. Miltonias are more able to take heat but the Miltoniopsis (pansy orchids) prefer cooler conditions but not cold.

[orchidsarefun]

Originally Posted by silken

If they are squishy they are likely rotting. New roots are white but they can be healthy and still be brown as they age and pick up staining from bark and other types of media. But squishy or mushy is not good. I sometimes find it hard to keep Milts moist and not dry or wet. I don't have much luck with CHC which stays too wet in the interior of the pot for me over my cool winters in the greenhouse. But others like it. I would use bark and a bit of moss, but everyone's growing conditions are different.

It might help to put something chunky in the bottom like charcoal or leca (clay) balls for good drainage. Make sure they don't sit in water. Using some kelp (seaweed) enhances root growth really well on some orchids but I haven't found as obvious affect on my MIlts as I have on some like Cattleyas. It wouldn't hurt tho and likely would help.

Maybe someone else will have better advice. I have a few Milts and used to do quite well with them, but they have been going downhill for me so I haven't found all the answers either. Heat will definitely stress them especially if they are not in prime condition in the first place. Miltonias are more able to take heat but the Miltoniopsis (pansy orchids) prefer cooler conditions but not cold.

Agree. I personally find miltoniopsis the most difficult orchid to grow long term, out of all the species I grow, because of their cultural requirements. In contrast, miltonias are a breeze because they do like it warmer.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

It is not due to heat at all. Miltoniopsis have bad reputation as cool grower, but they do just fine in the summer heat of 80s or even in the 90s.
Mine all grew like weeds last summer!

Your issue of their leaves is definitely underwatering.
They need to be kept moist at all times otherwise there will arise all sorts of problems.

Yeah, I tend not to disagree when people say they are cool growers. But I grew one with my phals for several years and it did really well.