Miltonia spectabilis (Project 9 Int. - Summer 2009)

[RosieC]

great work Nenella,

My plant is probably similar size to one of yours. No sign of flowers though and I probably don't get enough sun, but it will be going back in the brightest spot outside once it's warm enough (it's been in the brightest spot inside all winter but that's not bright enough really.

[nenella]

Thanks for looking & for your nice comments!

Rosie I believe it really is the 'light/sunshine' that makes the difference. When I first moved here I only had 4 net curtains on that window and we had about 10 days of blue skies. I nearly toasted the poor plants. So I doubled up to 8 net curtains and buds have since appeared. Good news is that yesterday I found yet another bud I had not seen before.

If anyone living in France/Europe wants a bit I would be more than happy to split one of my divisions (as you can see from the photo they alone take up one of my 3 orchidariums.... and I would like to create space for future purchases.

[RosieC]

Been trying to get the brightest light I can on this.

It went outside in a bright spot in the garden just after my last message, but due to the imediately bright weather took a slight burn (but not really enough to cause a problem, just a few of the leaves). It then went quite cloudy again but the last 3 weeks have been a heat-wave with very bright sun. It's been getting about 10:30 am - 7:30pm direct sun pretty much every day and is coping fine with it, but going slightly more yellow.

Let's hope this year's summer may be enough for it.

[NatalieS]

Very pretty colouring on that bloom nenella! Congrats!

I've been doing an experiment with mine.

First year I had it, it bloomed, but it was only under household LED lights inside (i.e. not especially bright conditions). However, it was in a little mini greenhouse and humidity was a constant 70-80%. Because it was inside, it also stayed wetter.

This year, I put it outside as soon as the temps were warm enough, and in a spot that gets direct light most of the day in spring and summer. The leaves and bulbs went quite yellow, but no blooms on either new growth. However, it's been really dry with unusually low humidity all summer too.

I think that it's a combination of light and humidity. It will take lower light and still flower if the humidity is kept really high.

Nenella, do you know if humidity was higher than normal in your area this year?

[nenella]

Hi Natalie, thanks for looking. Unfortunately I can't say for certain... It was probably higher as we had a very "wet' start to the year although it was quite a few degrees warmer here than where I used to live
(300 Km south, always on the Atlantic coast)

[Roly0217]

Well time has definitely past since this project. I am happy to say that my plant is still growing beautifully and blooming every year. Here is what this year's blooms looked like.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[RosieC]

Gorgeous Roly!

Mine continues to grow but now flower.

[nenella]

Wow Roly, that's a super flowering! congrats!!! Hope I too get to see loads of blooms this year.
By the way anyone living in Europe who would like a division of mine - will be a pleasure to send you, as really too big!

[Zoi2]

I am so frustrated with my Miltonias....no blooms again this year. 5 years is long enough to jack around with this thing but I thought I'd give one last try. I just got off the phone with Andy Phillips at Andy's Orchids. He said to grow it like cymbidiums! Lots of really bright light, heavy fertilizer and down to almost freezing in the fall. Then in as much sun during the winter as possible with a bit less fertilizer.

I am starting the new regimen today with the hateful buggers in full sun until 3:00pm, fertilize extra heavy and will leave them out until freezing. (if I don't forget to bring them in ). Full sun in the winter and if they don't bloom next June-July, they are society auction fodder .
Joann

[RosieC]

Interesting Joann, nothing here either.

I've had mine in full sun from april to sept last year and again this year, but last year was a dull wet summer so although it was enough to slightly burn when it was still adjusting in april it didn't get that much the rest of the summer. In winter it was in roughly the same spot but just inside rather than outside but the difference in the plant colour (going greener inside) was noticable.

Now it's back outside and this year we are getting more sun. Again it burnt just slightly on the leaf tips when it went from outside to inside but is now seeming fine again in the full sun.

But I've not perhaps fertilised so much (average not heavy) and it's not gone that cold.

Hmm... like Cyms he says, ok this winter it stays out till my Cyms move to the greenhouse then going in the greenhouse with them (frost protected but not massively heated greenhouse).