overgrown miltoniopsis

[Rainshadow]

Oh, I fell off the wagon, bought a noid miltoniopsis at Safeway, I swore I wasn't going to do that any more...

It is so overgrown in a tall 4" pot. It has 5 spikes, I don't know how many plants are in there. It is packed so tightly I think it needs to be pulled apart but I know I'll end up with plants with a few little damaged roots trying to support too much foliage. I know it will shorten the life of the flowers if I repot but was thinking about putting it into a 6" pot with just enough root disturbance to give it a little start and then maybe loosen it up when the flowers are all gone (3 half- developed spikes, 2 in bloom) . Any other suggestions besides stop buying those supermarket noids?

Sorry I don't have any pictures, you guys all know what it looks like anyhow. My Zygo benefitted from your good advice last year, its smiling and waving its flowers at you.

thanks,
Rainshadow

[silken]

I bought one from Safeway last fall that sounds like yours. It is one plant with many growths and my finest speciman! It wasn't in bloom when I got it and I did re-pot quite soon to a 4 inch square pot. I didn't break the plant up but removed all the media which was quite old and wet and had a moss ball in the centre. It has done quite well in fine bark with a bit of perlite and moss mixed in. Currently has 8 spikes! Be sure to post photos when you have blooms.

Makes me wonder if maybe our Safeways have these in at the moment.....

[Rainshadow]

Thanks Silkin, I think I will leave it intact. Its a big red one with a large mask and smells really nice. It came from Matsui Nursery in California, I live in Washington state and I don't know if your store would have the same vender?

Rainshadow

[silken]

I'm not sure where our Safeways get plants from since I am in Canada. They usually just have Phals and Cymbidiums but occasionally get some other orchids. Once your plant is done blooming I would check the roots and consider re-potting if the media looks old. Mine produced a lot of new ones after re-potting.