Miltonopsis problem =(

[amygator]

I have about 20 orchids, and all of them have done great, but I recently got my first Miltonopsis, and I'm sad to say it's not doing very well. When I first brought it home, I put it on my screened porch on the shelf with my other orchids; however, I soon realized that it was getting too much sun there, and moved it to a shadier spot on the porch. It still continued to decline, starting with the flowers dying, then each leaf, one at a time, has slowly turned yellow, then developed black spots and died. I moved it inside (after learning it likes cooler temps than I get here in FL), and it's sitting in a window with a small amount of indirect sunlight, mostly shade. There are 3 leaves left, one is about to fall off, the other two still have green on the top half, but the bottom half is turning yellow. Does this mean it got too much sun? I was watering about once a week at first, but lately I've increased to twice a week. I keep the bark evenly moist, but it's still not looking good. My only consolation is that the center base of the plant is still green, even though the part above that is yellow. Do you think it will survive? Should I be doing anything differently? Are there any supplements or regiments I should be doing to "nurse it along"? Please help!
*Please note: I included one picture of the plant when it was healthy, and two pictures of it right now, looking very sad and sick

[camille1585]

Hello and to Orchidboard!
I hope we will be able to help you. Do you have some pictures of your orchid? that would help to try to identify the causes of the problem.
Have you checked on the roots? If many of the roots are dead that may explain the problem.

[quiltingwacko]

Miltoniopsis like to be cooler than most other orchids. Mine are in an air conditioned room. They get a moderate amount of indirect light. Since I cannot use the tap water here for them, I use distilled water. If I use the local tap water, the tips of the leaves turn black. That is how I know when I am over fertilizing too. They like less than other orchids it appears. I water the three in spaghnum moss every day, just keeping them good and wet. The one planted in coconut husk and perlite is watered every other day so far. Haven't got that one figured out yet as it was just given to me recently by quiltergal. Hope this helps you some. Carol

[amygator]

I added some pictures...please tell me what you think! The first picture is of the plant when it was healthy, and the other two are from a few days ago. Since then, two more leaves fell off, so it just has one leaf left! The middle base is still green, though, and the roots look healthy, not soft or rotten.

[D&S Mabel]

I have four Miltonopsis plants that I have outdoors in central Florida and all do pretty good with a couple notes:

To some degree, different crosses seem to be more sensitive to temps above 91F-92F. Our Mtssa. C.M. Fitch 'Hilo Triple Lip' seems to be the most sensitive and typically spends August and September indoors. Otherwise it gets limp and forms brown spots on the leaves that seem to be filled with water. So it could have been a temperature issue to start.

All are in bright shade all day with about 2 hours of direct late morning sun.

I am no expert but I think when you might want to consider a smaller pot for this type of orchid. Mine like to be a bit confined in the pot. I think you also may want to consider removing the sphagnum moss from the top of your potting mix. I have found that these plants like an open, well drained mix and little or no moss, at least in my growing enviroment. Too much moss ends up keeping the plant too moist and the roots die off.

Don't give up yet. My first plant was down to no leaves before I figured out what it needed. Good luck!

[philoserenus]

i totally agree with mabel there. that pot is way too big for it. i would just repot it into a 2" pot and that would do for a while. most oncidium alliance plants like to be snug and tight in their pots. not to mention, it allows for a rapid wet/dry cycle that they enjoy. good luck and be patient. and if u have repotted, dun keep it in such a sunny location.

[smwboxer]

Mabel - Howard Fitch is a MILITONIA/BRASSIA cross. Miltonopsis are not the same and are very intolerant of temps that get to warm. I would not consider them for outdoors culture durring the summer. If you can keep some sort of humidity, they are perfect for culture in an air conditioned house.

[Phantasm]

I'm sorry to say it, but that plant is a goner......

Miltoniopsis will not peform well in warm climates unless they are strongly Mtps. roezlii which tolerates a bit of heat. That being said, these plants enjoy temperate temperatures (55-80), good humidity, annual repotting in snug pots, light conditions a bit more than phal lighting and copious water during the growing season.

Once the culture is understood, they are pretty easy.