Miltoniopsis leaves limp and folding

[The Orchid Kid]

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.

I think the CHC has been kept too moist. It does seem to retain a good bit of water and maybe I needed to ease off. I'll let it dry out. Will the brown roots stop rotting and still get back to health, or will it be a case of new ones growing and some long rehab for the plant?

I will look into drainage - good tips!

[NYCorchidman]

Ok, given your description, it is overwatering then.
Well, the healthy roots should be white. a bit light brown is fine but too brown means something is wrong.

Browned roots will not come back to white again, but many of these are alive and new roots develop out of them as long as they are alive.
You don't want to squeeze every single brown root to see how firm they are.
I think you should let it dry out a bit or repot into fresh media if current mix seems too old.

[silken]

Originally Posted by The Orchid Kid

I think the CHC has been kept too moist. It does seem to retain a good bit of water and maybe I needed to ease off. I'll let it dry out. Will the brown roots stop rotting and still get back to health, or will it be a case of new ones growing and some long rehab for the plant?

I will look into drainage - good tips!

I find sometimes a root that is partly rotten will send out a new branch from further up on a healthy part. But sometimes the rot just continues to travel upward. Good drainage is very important.

[Moirae]

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.

I bought one last summer from a sales girl at a Phal greenhouse/storefront in Santa Barbara; the Miltoniopsis were brought in from another grower and she admitted to not knowing about them. She did offer to check her reference for growing info and she gave me the info that they were warm growers similar to phals, so I got one. Oops, I lost all my blooms to blast within a day or two of getting home and the few new branches blasted too in our summer heat. Found out later that it was a Miltoniopsis, but the plants were labeled Miltonia so that's what she looked up.

That being said, I'm stubbornly holding on to mine because I might move in the next year. It hates the hot summer here (high 90s to 105 F). I don't think I will get flowers anytime soon and i have some accordion pleats and some dry tips, but it's not dying and it liked the spring and grew quite a bit when temps were only in the 80s.

So, I could definitely see someone successfully growing them in a "warm climate", but not one quite as warm as mine without some sort of climate control.

[orchidsarefun]

A photo of some of my seedlings grown in the basement. Temps haven't exceeded 73f for a while. High humidity. Leaves are just about perfect, but some are concertina'd despite the conditions.
Tallest are over a foot, excluding pot


Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2

[The Orchid Kid]

I think a few have gone too far, but some are only just brown, so fingers crossed they branch out with fresh stuff. I took some CHC out and kinda eased up the tightness of the medium to let more air in and will let them dry off a bit.

[LovePhals]

I also grow one of my Miltoniopsis with my phals at Medium Light. They seem to need the same amount of water as all of my Oncidium alliance plants. They are all very thirsty. Mine do very well with CHC mix. Tons of root growth throughout the pot. I keep them pretty moist at all times.

[NYCorchidman]

That's how you do it!

[brianwstephens]

These like a lot of water, as they are doused with rain almost every morning in their natural habitat. If the leaves are folding in an accordion-style manner, then the issue is probably inconsistent watering.