White Miltoniopsis as Cut Flower...for very short time

[NYCorchidman]

I accidently hit my white miltoniopsis last night and one entire spike broke off.
It had siz flowers on it and I was quite upset with what happened.

I remembered reading how miltoniopsis makes terrible cut flowers lasting only few hours after being cut.

Well, I put mine on a glass of water. It stayed fresh for upto 24 hours before being all shrivelled up.

Well, well, well, what a loss!
I still have three spikes with siz flowers on each though.

[camille1585]

That's too bad! It's happened to all of us, and it's never a happy moment...
You might be able to get the blooms to last a day or 2 longer in water if you recut the stem under water. That way air bubbles don't clog the water uptake.

[NYCorchidman]

I think humans are the biggest threat to them, breaking them off, spreading virus.... lol

[james mickelso]

But the white miltoniopsis make great black and white still life photographs if laid lightly on very thin shear cloth and allowed to dry completely. I wish I could find a way to copy my portfolios to my PC. I have tons of flowers. Oh well. Taken with an 8x10 camera the flowers structure can be seen and the shear delicacy looks very beautiful. Yes everyone has had accidents with there orchids. My only good zygo mackyii had a great big spike within a couple days of opening and old fumble fingers/club hand dropped it. Recut under water but it wouldn't open all the way. Haven't gotten any to grow since. I think they hate me. Most die all blackened with fungus. Spite. Pure and simple.

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

But the white miltoniopsis make great black and white still life photographs if laid lightly on very thin shear cloth and allowed to dry completely. I wish I could find a way to copy my portfolios to my PC. I have tons of flowers. Oh well. Taken with an 8x10 camera the flowers structure can be seen and the shear delicacy looks very beautiful. Yes everyone has had accidents with there orchids. My only good zygo mackyii had a great big spike within a couple days of opening and old fumble fingers/club hand dropped it. Recut under water but it wouldn't open all the way. Haven't gotten any to grow since. I think they hate me. Most die all blackened with fungus. Spite. Pure and simple.

I don't see how miltoniopsis flowers can be completely dried and still look good. Mine got all wrinkly. hmmm

[james mickelso]

Slow drying makes them wrinkle less and laying them face down on some very shear cloth helps keep them flat. Yes they are wrinkled but that makes them appealing in a large black and white image. I print my own and use film. An 8x10 negative enlarged to 16 x 20 or even 11 x 14 is stunning. Very detailed. If you've ever seen an iris flower close up and how thin, nearly transparent, it will give you some idea of the look of your white flower dried and photographed.

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

Slow drying makes them wrinkle less and laying them face down on some very shear cloth helps keep them flat. Yes they are wrinkled but that makes them appealing in a large black and white image. I print my own and use film. An 8x10 negative enlarged to 16 x 20 or even 11 x 14 is stunning. Very detailed. If you've ever seen an iris flower close up and how thin, nearly transparent, it will give you some idea of the look of your white flower dried and photographed.

Interesting!