Advice for watering my new miltoniopsis please

[judith_arquette]

Just got this yesterday and am scared to touch it...I don't really want to repot it, the medium seems appropriate for it's needs although I'm not exactly sure what it's potted in. It almost looks like potting soil and sphag. I've been told to keep it moist but not wet without letting it dry out. It feels fairly moist now but my concern is how to water it when the time comes...I currently soak my other orchids abt 15 mins or so when needed but I'm thinking that if I soak this or even run water thru (it's in a clay pot with only one hole in the bottom) that it'll become a sopping mess. Am I worrying too much? I've almost killed all my current orchids with my compulsive overwatering (I've got 100% root rot record) which I finally got under control after starting to use skewers but I have no clue how to water this...
All help/advice/suggestions greatly appreciated

[lotis146]

I've soaked my Miltoniopsis but honestly I'm very new to these guys as well. I've read not to soak them at all ever but mine survived and after repotting it several weeks ago in coconut coir and clay pebbles its new growth has grown significantly more with a new leaf coming up. I think right now I'm watering 1-2 per week. It stays on a lower shelf of my 4-shelf greenhouse unit next to an east window. (Set up last week) Seems happy so far.

So my reply here is more for moral support than real advice. I will say that media seems a little suspect! Perhaps it's peat moss? Maybe it needs a repot as that dirt like stuff would worry me. Mine was in some kind of bark/rock mixture but did seem "dirty", at the end of the day I think this was actually the bark having broken down. Mine's roots were wrapped terribly around the pot and I cut about 40% of them off because they were rotted. This is the plant I bought newly in bloom and then didn't water for 3.5 weeks. It has since recovered rather nicely. Oh and I don't soak my orchids EVERY time I water them; since starting to water more I soak every other time and just run the water through in between.

My point? Maybe do repot since roots are growing and then you can plant in medium that's more your speed, that's fresh, and you can get a look at roots now (then if it's already rotten it's not your fault!).

Good luck, keep us posted.

[Hiester]

That potting media sure does look suspicious. Does this container feel heavy? A typical Miltoniopsis mix would be about 80% fine fir bark and 20% sponge rock. Miltoniopsis likes to be repotted once a year when new growth starts, but the size of the pot should only accommodate the root system comfortably. Potting in too large a container can cause troubles.

[NYCorchidman]

No, that is a great mix, it is called Promix, which is peat moss mixed with small grade perlite.

It retains moisture well and stay very light and airy.
As you buy more orchids that come from huge productions, you will see pretty much all orchids are potted in this stuff.
I have bought pretty much everything except for phals in this mix.

You are right that it does get sopping wet when you water, but don't worry because it is also very airy.

Remember the weight after you water it. It will be quite heavy as the mix will contain quite a bit of water. Then lift the pot about 3-4 days later. If you feel the pot much much lighter, the it's time to water again. Almost bone dry.

Staying completely dry for a few days is not a good idea with these, especially when it is in bloom ( the bloom will wither away prematurely) or in active growth ( the developing leaves will get all crinkled up).

[judith_arquette]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

No, that is a great mix, it is called Promix, which is peat moss mixed with small grade perlite.

It retains moisture well and stay very light and airy.
As you buy more orchids that come from huge productions, you will see pretty much all orchids are potted in this stuff.
I have bought pretty much everything except for phals in this mix.

You are right that it does get sopping wet when you water, but don't worry because it is also very airy.

Remember the weight after you water it. It will be quite heavy as the mix will contain quite a bit of water. Then lift the pot about 3-4 days later. If you feel the pot much much lighter, the it's time to water again. Almost bone dry.

Staying completely dry for a few days is not a good idea with these, especially when it is in bloom ( the bloom will wither away prematurely) or in active growth ( the developing leaves will get all crinkled up).

Ya I wasn't sure what it was but when I poked around in there gently with my finger it seemed like it was good stuff. And until I get to know it better I'd like to mess with it as little as possible as long as it seems to be doing well...

Thanks for the tips! I'll def do that!

[NYCorchidman]

You're welcome!

If you want to overwater it, you can always repot your miltoniopsis in bark and perlite mixture.
Then you really have to water a lot to keep it happy.

Happy growing!

[lotis146]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

You're welcome!

If you want to overwater it, you can always repot your miltoniopsis in bark and perlite mixture.
Then you really have to water a lot to keep it happy.

Happy growing!

Thanks for educating some of us others about this mix. Dirt-like substances worry my little amateur brain. Is the key to recognizing this the airy texture and speckles of perlite? I've got Paph. lebaudyanum - month ago - in what looks like broken down bark/peat, thus my response here after seeing her pics.

And good luck Judith!

[james mickelso]

NY, this doesn't look like Promix as much as peat mixed with sphagnum moss. I don't see any perlite. These will rot in a heartbeat if not kept just damp. If these stay wet longer than a day, rot sets in right away. The reason the grower could use this stuff is, again, high temps, high humidity, good light, and most importantly, good aeration. Lots of wind. Huge fans at each end of the growing house. Judith, may we have a couple more pics? I'd like to see a couple more angles of this mix and the plant. If there is new growth, it's the perfect time to repot. From the pic here it looks to be in good shape. Milts have fine numerous roots that rot easily so overwatering is anathema to good culture. NY, Promix works very well with milts as you said. I'd just like to see this stuff from a different angle to make sure it's Promix.

[judith_arquette]

Here's a better (?) pic. There is some perlite in there and I believe you're right, I do think it's peat, it's much spongier than soil but the orchid is potted so tightly that I would really have to unpot it to get any kind of better view of what's really in the middle...
All I have on hand at the moment is lyca balls as far as potting medium goes. I had to pitch all my bark because it became moldy quickly (even though it was new and large chunks). I tried everything to get it under control but gave up in frustration.
How do I keep it just damp? Mist the top of the medium? Drizzle water in slowly?

[NYCorchidman]

It is promix. No commercial growers put orchids in straight peat unless they are morons. lol

I could see perlite in both pictures actually.
The sphag is not part of the mix if you look carefully.
It is just used for lining the top.

When you water orchids in promix, it will stay wet/moist for at least couple of days. one day and rot is simply not true.

I have every common hobby orchids (mostly oncidium hybrids, dendrobiums, milts, and paphs) in promix with the exception of phals and catts, and they all do much better than things potted in other stuff.
I believe the key is the constant moist and air at the root zone.

Judith- Just follow what I posted above.
Do not just drizzle. It may work for short period, but in the long run, plants will suffer with dehydration. Water (I even soak for five minutes) and drain all the way until there is not a drop of water left in the saucer (if you use saucer). Then lift the pot and remember how heavy it feels.
Check the weight again in about three or four days. You should feel it much lighter. Wait one more day. then water. You want to water THOUROUGHLY!!!