Does my Miltonia Sunset look OK?

[Kevstar]

Hi guys.

Does this Miltonia Sunset look OK to you? I'm trying to water correctly and the roots have new growth at the tips. But it just doesn't look as healthy as I thought it would.

I noticed 1 mealy bug about a month ago but nothing since.

Or does it look fine and I'm just worrying over nothing?

Thanks.

Kev.

[Roberta]

Looks good to me. Those new roots look great. Patience... Also, the older pseudobulbs will shrivel eventually, as new growth develops with the new roots. That's natural... As long as you are getting new roots (and soon new growth) the plant is happy.

[rbarata]

I don't own any Miltonia so.... but your plant looks a little pale, yellowish.... have you investigated for spider mites?

[Kevstar]

Well I just went to check for spider mites, not really sure what I'm looking for but seen a lot of YouTube videos. I looked all over and under the leaves and in the creases but can't see anything at all..

BUT... When I took the pot out of the decorative pot I found this little guy hiding...

Confession time.. I never repotted when I ordered this, so not sure how old the media is. Should I repot it and check the root system out and see if anything is lurking in the media? Or should I leave it seeing as the roots appear to be growing well on top?

Thanks for your patience..

Kev.

[Roberta]

I have found that this group tends to be pale like this no matter what one does. (I do grow a few) Maybe a little Epsom Salts (magnesium) might green it up somewhat, but they're just pale and that doesn't seem to do any harm.

Just saw that photo... bush snail. Yes, repot. You have nice new root growth so this is a good time. While you need to be gentle to not break new roots, you do want to clean up up as well as you can (like put it under the faucet to rinse off old media) because that little guy no doubt has siblings and cousins and friends in that media, and they nibble off root tips. And are pretty impossible to kill, so you want to get the infested medium away from your plant.

[Puja]

Though it does looks a little yellowish compared to images on google, tbh that could just be the lighting.
This American Orchid Society web page specifically mentions that Miltonias tend to be a rather yellowish shade of green in their healthy state.

Aside from some possible doubts about the colour, the plant and its roots look great and the medium doesn't look decomposed either (though you can't always tell).

[WeirdGuySeattle]

Miloniopsis at least hate stale medium more than any other plant I've tried - fine roots and mush make a lot of rot. Miltonia I would assume are the same, but tolerate higher temps.
Repot yearly I'd say.

[estación seca]

The plant looks like it has Miltonia spectabilis in its ancestry. With proper light that plant is pure yellow, not green at all. I think your plant looks completely healthy.