Miltonia flavescens

[WhiteRabbit]

Native to Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. Cool - Warm growing, tho mine takes short periods of quite hot temps, as well as short periods of rather cold temps (freezing, or just below) - but is sheltered during extremes.

This is a WEED! LOL. I got this three years ago as a small division - one mature growth with two new growths that had just finished blooming (this blooms on not yet mature growth). Look at it now! Each growth will get two new growths, so you can see how this becomes huge very quickly. It also has a sprawling rhizome, which makes it difficult to keep in a pot.

I don't know why only some new growth blooms

It has a few 'deformed' blooms this year (blooms were all normal last year - only had one spike) - missing or underdeveloped petals. I haven't used superthrive or other hormones, so don't know what might have caused this

Other than the few odd blooms - this has been a VERY easy grower and bloomer for me.

Thanks for looking

[silken]

That's very nice! Why don't I have one of these???

[kevin1217]

Those are very nice looking flowers! Now I need to get one...

[billc]

I like that!

Bill

[NatalieS]

Beautiful! Good growing!

I'm always very tempted to buy this miltonia but never end up doing it. Now I want it even more!

I have seen deformed blooms on an orchid that was subjected to very cold temperatures for too long a period (no hormones or superthrive). I believe the Brazilian miltonias are quite tolerant and can experience extremes from 93F (34C) to 34F (1C), but in their natural habitat, the average minimum in winter would be around 56F (13C) and the recommended minimum temp for winter in cultivation is 13-14C. Maybe it got a little too cold for too long this past winter? This is only what I've read on their cultural requirements and is obviously no substitute for experience!

[WhiteRabbit]

thanks everyone

I was going to say 'everyone should have one of these!', but then realized the sprawling rhizome could be problematic. I potted the original division in a 3" pot. That was three years ago - it's growing over the sides of the current 6" pot, which it's been in less than a year. But other than that ... it is really an easy, and fast!, grower

Originally Posted by NatalieS

I have seen deformed blooms on an orchid that was subjected to very cold temperatures for too long a period (no hormones or superthrive). I believe the Brazilian miltonias are quite tolerant and can experience extremes from 93F (34C) to 34F (1C), but in their natural habitat, the average minimum in winter would be around 56F (13C) and the recommended minimum temp for winter in cultivation is 13-14C. Maybe it got a little too cold for too long this past winter? This is only what I've read on their cultural requirements and is obviously no substitute for experience!

I certainly have wondered about the temps possibly being a cause, but since it spikes in spring, I don't know. We did have some unusually cool weather this spring, and some lower than expected night temps, so it's possible.

[Bud]

That is a large specimen with magnificent display of blooms....I dont see the deformity but maybe next season when it blooms, we will be able to distinguish....otherwise its got lush green leaves and new growths sprouting....good growing ....

[Jennyfleur]

Sonya, that looks amazing! Good growing

[NatalieS]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

I certainly have wondered about the temps possibly being a cause, but since it spikes in spring, I don't know. We did have some unusually cool weather this spring, and some lower than expected night temps, so it's possible.

If you had an unusual and sudden cold snap in spring I would be putting my money on that being the cause. It's probably not the cold during winter at all, but rather when the plant comes out of it's rest state and a cold spell sets it back, stunting its proper development.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by Bud

That is a large specimen with magnificent display of blooms....I dont see the deformity but maybe next season when it blooms, we will be able to distinguish....otherwise its got lush green leaves and new growths sprouting....good growing ....

thanks Bud - I think you can see one of the 'deformed' blooms in the center of the full plant pic - very underdeveloped petals that are sort of curled at the center of the flower - at first I thought it was just missing petals. I'm still happy with the blooming tho.

Yes, LOTS of new growth! I was doing the math roughly in my head - if every growth gets two new growths, then this went from a small three growth division to over 30 growths in three years! And since it probably got 16 new growths (from the 8 new ones last year) this year, those alone will sprout 32 new growths! OMG! Definitely need a MUCH bigger pot And dividing