Describe how you successfully grow Miltoniopsis

[terryros]

There may only be a small number of growers who like AND are successful at growing and blooming Miltoniopsis hybrids. To help the group that are interested in this group, if you are successful growing them, would you please describe:

Your growing environment (indoors/greenhouse)
Your growing medium (bark, moss, LECA, etc)
Your lighting
Your temperature through the year
Your water
Your fertilizer and water/fertilizing schedule
Anything else you think would help someone

[RosieC]

I would love to know as well. I have two, but they are struggling and I don't really know what I am doing with them. Anyone who is sucessful please let us know what you do.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by RosieC

I would love to know as well. I have two, but they are struggling and I don't really know what I am doing with them. Anyone who is sucessful please let us know what you do.

Hey Rosie. Check out the other post by terryros.

[terryros]

That was very nice information you posted in the other thread.

I think the light isn't hard, but keeping them moist but not root rotted is the key. That is why I am using Hydroton as the growing media but with frequent flow of fluid through the media. They drain quickly and don't stand in high water. After a while getting things right, I have excellent root growth and that leads to the good leaves.

Too dry and you get accordion leaves, too wet and the roots rot and you get bacterial rot of the leaves. I don't think these are probably a "set it and forget it" plant for most, which maybe makes them harder. I think they are pretty plants even not in bloom, which I can't say for any Catt alliance that I have!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by terryros

That was very nice information you posted in the other thread.

I think the light isn't hard, but keeping them moist but not root rotted is the key. That is why I am using Hydroton as the growing media but with frequent flow of fluid through the media. They drain quickly and don't stand in high water. After a while getting things right, I have excellent root growth and that leads to the good leaves.

Too dry and you get accordion leaves, too wet and the roots rot and you get bacterial rot of the leaves. I don't think these are probably a "set it and forget it" plant for most, which maybe makes them harder. I think they are pretty plants even not in bloom, which I can't say for any Catt alliance that I have!

Thanks!

Yeah, they're definitely not "set it and forget it".

I like them for their neat appearance. They're not "all over the place", if you know what I mean.

I like Catts too though. Not as much as some of the other genera of orchids.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

You know what...

Now that I think of it.

Watering Miltioniopsis is kinda akin to watering ferns, idk.

Ferns like a lot of moisture (not soggy), but they like good drainage and good air circulation. They can also tolerate a brief dry out.

So yeah, kinda like that, if it makes it easier for people to picture. A lot of people grow ferns. So maybe this analogy might click.

[RosieC]

I think watering is my problem. I'm scared of overwatering and rotting the roots so I don't think I water enough.

I will look at the other thread as well thanks

[RosieC]

I think that's one reason my Miltonia is doing well... it's mounted and I'm not scared to water it every day.

[terryros]

Growing them in LECA (the hard clay balls) I water them some every day and the fluid drains right out so I don't seem to get root rot but have moist roots. The plants are also seeing fresh fertilizer solution constantly at about 100 ppm N and a good pH because of RO water. There are lots of air spaces in the media and it is sort of like being mounted in a pot. The media just secures the plant in the pot.

[RosieC]

The talk about Leca makes me wonder if these do well in S/H or not? Has anyone tried?