Anyone Grow Miltonia or Miltoniopsis in Texas

[kmccormic]

Is it possible to even grow these outdoors in Texas?

I'm an outdoors grower (east-facing apartment balcony) and I'd love to pick one of these up, but the low temperature indicators have me skeptical. I could put it behind a 30% shadecloth and far in the back to reduce the light, but temperature??? It's 80-100 1/3 of the year here in Austin TX. I'd heard there were ways to keep the roots of a plant cooler, but haven't found out how. Perhaps if I pot it in an unglazed clay pot? And that inside another clay pot?

[estación seca]

Pick something that will do well in your conditions. This won't.

[Ray]

Brazilian miltonias, maybe, but I'd be concerned about the humidity level being sufficient. I grew them alongside of phals for years.

Miltoniopsis - no way....

[kmccormic]

Thank you Estación seca, Thank you Ray.

Austin humidity Mar-Oct goes from min 50% late afternoon, to average 75%-85% most of the day. (The other months I take them indoors where the humidity is a blessed 40-50% and temps 70-75 - but I have no good windows for light.) So perhaps the Brazilians that Ray mentioned could handle it if I shop carefully.

[estación seca]

Miltonia spectabilis is probably the closest warm-grower to a Miltoniopis. It has long rhizomes between pseudobulbs, so many grow it mounted. A section of cedar fence board works well. With proper light the plant turns mostly yellow - pseudobulbs and leaves. They are tasty to rats.

[kmccormic]

Thanks for the tip Estacion seca! Miltonia spectabilis looks like a beautiful plant too