Keep Miltonia from getting wrinkles ? - Orchid Board

snowflake311 · #1 12-04-2014, 11:53 PM

How do you keep these plants from getting wrinkles? My new growth is growing well and fast but it has wrinkles. Its a healthy plant good roots I repotted in a few months ago in moss and fine bark mix. It's in a plastic pot. I water it once a week. But I think I should water more because it is growing I have 3 new bulbs going. The humidity in the house averages 40-50% .

The bulbs look great never wrinkle. What is the trick to keeping new growth straight? I feel like I can not over water this plant.

RandomGemini · #2 12-05-2014, 12:26 AM

Pics please? I'm thinking more water.

snowflake311 · #3 12-05-2014, 11:43 AM

It's the pleats that the leaves get. Like this.

I am thinking that I should change the media it is potted in. It is not staying evenly moist. It is in a moss and fine bark mix.

I think I am going to repot it with a finer mix that will be more even around the roots because I can see I have too many Gaps around the roots and so some roots are not getting enough water I think. I will chop up my Moss add perlite and some fine bark. This should help I hope.

Here is my new growth I know it is due to watering problems. I repotted it a few months ago and the roots were all in good shape.

DeaC · #4 12-05-2014, 12:57 PM

Personally,I think humidity is too low. One last thought...I have roezlii v. zanthina bought from Fishing Creek that he planted in Promix "as an experiment". I'm careful watering but so far no wrinkles.

RandomGemini · #5 12-05-2014, 01:20 PM

I have this issue when I do not have enough moisture in the medium. Humidity in my growing space is 50% and I still see wrinkling on the leaves like this, so I do not think this is humidity related.

I have most of my oncidiums potted in almost pure NZ Sphagnum Moss now, because bark is great, but it dries out too darned fast for oncidiums. The roots seem to like to only just dry out between waterings. I do mix a small amount of bark in with the moss, to keep it from compacting too much, but it's probably a 75% moss 25% bark ratio. It seems to work really well and prevents pleating of the leaves for subsequent growths once the plants are repotted in this mix.

snowflake311 · #6 12-05-2014, 03:18 PM

The high humidity helps keep the plant from getting too dry too fast. But really what the plant needs is more water.

I am going to repot the plant I did a crappy job the first time and will use all moss and some perlite. Thanks .

I was playing with the idea of using peatmoss and perlite since that was what it was in when I got it?? Anyone ever try peatmoss on these plants?

RandomGemini · #7 12-05-2014, 03:39 PM

Yes, I have peat in with some of my oncidiums that are potted in all bark still, I'm not a fan just because it's so much easier to tell when sphagnum is in need of being replaced, just by its color.

WhiteRabbit · #8 12-05-2014, 07:35 PM

Either too much, or too little water. Too much water causes roots to rot, and then the plant is unable to take up any water. With correct watering, the pleated leaves will NOT un-pleat, but the new growth will come in smooth.
Use a skewer in the media to determine when to water.

snowflake311 · #9 12-05-2014, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

Either too much, or too little water. Too much water causes roots to rot, and then the plant is unable to take up any water. With correct watering, the pleated leaves will NOT un-pleat, but the new growth will come in smooth.
Use a skewer in the media to determine when to water.

Its is a clear pot I can see the roots not that well be enough. I repotted it on the oct 23. Roots were healthy then. From what I can see they still look good. Root rot is not a problem here. When I look at the pot I can see areas where it is open, no media around some of the roots. I think it was my bad potting job that is hurting my new growth.

I am going to repot and water 2 times a week. These orchids are just bitches. The color is great I have 3 new bulbs developing. The mature bulbs look awesome never wrinkle smooth and plump. The Stupid new growth will not grow straight it is driving me crazy.

I am going to try peat moss mix. I think it will help me keep the plant evenly moist.

WhiteRabbit · #10 12-06-2014, 07:10 PM

Depending on the size of the pot, and how much (or little) sphag is in the mix, it may indeed need more frequent than once a week watering. Also remember that fresh bark doesn't retain moisture as long as older bark.

My preference for these is either fine fir bark mix or chc mix. I don't care to add sphag, as it breaks down faster than the other media. Then water as necessary.

I haven't used peat - seems it could be easy to over water, or smother the roots of, epiphytes ...