Militonia Bert Field

[PlumCrazy]

This almost didn't come home with me from Hausermann's last month because I wasn't supposed to buy anything. I had four orchids in my hands, and was going to put this one back, my BFF insisted on getting it for me. That's what friends are for It was in bud, so obviously I had nothing to do with it blooming, but hope you enjoy the pictures. It's been in bloom for over two weeks so far.

Note: This things smells horrible!!! The first week or so, it had no scent. Then one day it smelled like PineSol. Great! But quickly it started to smell like rotting PineSol minus the pine undertones or some kind of weird, melty plasticy smell. I can't really describe it...

[DeaC]

No complaining! It was gifted, in bud and the color rocks. It's on my want list.

[PlumCrazy]

Originally Posted by DeaC

No complaining! It was gifted, in bud and the color rocks. It's on my want list.

Oh, I definitely love it!! I just try to avoid smelling it Luckily the "fragrance" doesn't fill the room. The flowers have a nice deep color and hang elegantly. I think this type is pretty popular, and would recommend it.

[PlumCrazy]

FYI - the blooms just fell last week, so I was very happy with the length of the display. Also, the weird scent did not last long, 2 weeks max. After that it had no fragrance.

[ArronOB]

Nice plant regardless of the smell.
Also, are you aware it’s a Miltonopsis not a miltonia. I generally don’t point out errors in orchid naming because of the endless reclassifications but this one is important because the difference in care between miltoniopsis and miltonia is huge.

[Clawhammer]

OrchidWeb says it has the fragrance of a "rhubarb pie".

Pretty tho

[PlumCrazy]

Originally Posted by ArronOB

Nice plant regardless of the smell.
Also, are you aware it’s a Miltonopsis not a miltonia. I generally don’t point out errors in orchid naming because of the endless reclassifications but this one is important because the difference in care between miltoniopsis and miltonia is huge.

Thanks. Generally, I just keep calling them by the name that came on the tag, even if the name changes, but it looks like in this case I misread the label. I usually try to snap a pic of the tags when I get them in case they go missing, so here is what I had. If I recall correctly, I found it called 'Militonia' a few places online, so must have assumed that what the tag was saying (still learning all of the abbreviations). I'll update its' file.

[PlumCrazy]

Originally Posted by Clawhammer

OrchidWeb says it has the fragrance of a "rhubarb pie".

Pretty tho

Interesting. I'm still not eating it though.

[ArronOB]

Originally Posted by PlumCrazy

Thanks. Generally, I just keep calling them by the name that came on the tag, even if the name changes, but it looks like in this case I misread the label. I usually try to snap a pic of the tags when I get them in case they go missing, so here is what I had. If I recall correctly, I found it called 'Militonia' a few places online, so must have assumed that what the tag was saying (still learning all of the abbreviations). I'll update its' file.

No, I don’t think you misread the label. Surely the label is wrong?
I’d expect
milt = miltonia
mps = miltoniopsis

Miltonias grow like weeds in my local environment while I’ve never been able to keep an actual Miltoniopsis alive. The nearest I can do is a Burrageara (Oncidiopsis) which I think is a Miltoniopsis crossed with a hardy little Oncidium of some sort. Shame, because I’d love an orchid type that flowered in high summer and plugged that flowerless gap.

[Roberta]

People who are in a warm area say that Miltoniopsis are cool growers. Those in cool areas consider them warm. What they are, I think, is "narrow range, picky". They don't like to go below about 50 deg F (10 deg C) or above about 80-85 deg F (27-29 deg C). Also need to stay damp. But well worth trying to keep them happy, those jewel colors are so beautiful.