Impulse Buy - New NOID Miltonia - Care Advice needed

[RosieC]

So I was in the garden center looking for clear plastic pots for my Phals. Didn't find them, but even though we are meant to be on a tight budget I could not resist this NOID. Hubby gave me 'one of those looks' but it was quite a cheep one so he didn't object.

It was labeled us as Miltonia and I'm not 100% if that is right, but I'm working on the assumption it is, unless anyone tells me different.

I've never had one of these and I'm mainly used to caring for Phals so I could do with advise on how to care for it.

I'm also slightly worried about the roots. When I look closely it looks like it was in a smaller plastic pot, and then has been put in a larger pot... with the small pot still there inside

I know with Phals people often say they repot as soon as they get them home. Should I do the same with this, especially if I'm worred. I don't really want to loose the flowers by repotting, but at the same time if you guys tell me it's best I would rather look after the plant than the bloomes. Basically I am wondering, how well do these do with repotting

The psudo-bulbs look good and plump (others in the shop were very wrinkled) and the plant looks in good shape from what I can see.

Anyway, I've taken a look at the genus care sheet Miltonia - Orchid Board but if anyone has any additional advice about care it would be great to hear. I'm not sure if mine is a warm or cooler growing version so I think I will have to care for it somewhere in between.





Oh and it's fragrant. My first fragrant Orchid

[Blueszz]

Great choice! Welcome to the club of the weak harted LOL
I hope others can give you a good adivse on how to care for this beauty!
\
Nicole

[nenella]

Very pretty ! I can understand how you 'cracked' for this one!!! I think your's is similar to one here: Orchid Photo Galleries - Miltonia, Miltoniopsis, and their hybrids.

[Phantasm]

This is a Miltoniopsis and is a cooler grower. They do not enjoy warm temperature especially if they are dry. Keep the medium evenly moist, and repot annually in a fine mix.

[bellini girl]

I feel your pain. You just got the one eh.. It's really had to resist

[RosieC]

I resited so many others while I was there.

I thought I was safe, this shop usually only has Phals and I have several and while I want more I would have been able to resit (I think).

But today they had Oncs, Dens, & these Miltonia (all NOID). I was close to picking up a nice Den which was very different to my existing one. I was very close to picking up an Onc as well.

I knew that if I could get away with any, it would just be one though. And this one won.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by Phantasm

This is a Miltoniopsis and is a cooler grower. They do not enjoy warm temperature especially if they are dry. Keep the medium evenly moist, and repot annually in a fine mix.

Thanks Phantasm, I was reading the care-sheet and was unsure if it was the cool growing or warmer growing version.

Do you think I should repot straight away? It looks like there is an inner plastic pot which has been left on when they put it in a larger pot. I have no idea the condition of the roots.

I have some fine grade bark I could use to repot if that is what is required. I also have medium grade CHC which would help keep it moist but may be too large.

I'm guessing I would loose the flowers if I did that though.

[Phantasm]

Hi Rosie,

I would just enjoy the blooms and as long as roots are growing and the mix isn't mush don't worry about that until autumn. I usually repot all of my miltoniopsis in the fall (September) so they can grow roots to get through the winter in good shape.

You want to grow these fine rooted plants in a fine mix composed of fine bark, a bit of perlite and maybe some charcoal. They love water.....

[RosieC]

Thanks Phantasm,

I'm afraid I couldn't stand not knowing what the roots were like last night so I removed it from the pot. If I loose the flowers as a result but the plant does OK I won't mind. If the plant dies... well I will have to chalk it up to learning.

The pot was a mess inside. There was a rectangular block of moss at the center. Not loose moss, this must have been formed and used as a compacted rectangular block. This was then inside a small pot with bark packing it out. The small pot was then inside a bigger pot which had 'Oasis' at the bottom and bark around the top.

The roots were in better shape than I feared but some seemed slightly mushy and I was not happy about them.



Anyway I have repotted, in a suitible size pot, and I've used fine grade bark, some of the smallest pieces of my medium grade CHC and some perlite. I've tried to go for something which will drain well, but which I can keep moist all the time.

[RosieC]

Oh, and I'm wondering if there is some new growth.

Tucked between two leaves is a bit which looks like it may be... what do you think