Repotting Miltoniopsis

[Pattywack]

I am thinking my Miltoniopsis needs a bigger pot. I know I don't want to over pot it but it is getting big and full. If it is not in the cashe pot, it's top heavy. I do not want to divide this plant.

This was my first orchid, ever. I've had it since last July and it was full of blooms, just beautiful. After the blooms fell I repotted it in fresh bark mix. I sterilized the pot and reused it. The plant came in a potting mixture and it was quite a job to remove it all from the roots. The roots were beautiful and healthy I just wanted the plant out of that mix. I grow this in my kitchen area, it spends most of the day in a southern exposure sitting on the counter. I flush water each week and give it a soak as well. I spray mist the top bark every day, weak fertilizer each week.

The plastic pot it is in is 4 1/2", roots poking out of every slot. This is the only Miltoniopsis I have and I'm curious as to what others use to pot their Miltoniopsis in? Not sure if I want a bigger plastic/clear pot or maybe go with a clay pot? It has certainly grown well and I hope it will bloom for me this year.

Here are a couple of pics from last July when I received the plant and today.

[Pattywack]

Sorry today's pic didn't load, here it is:

[dbarron]

Well, repot-me.com seems to recommend oncidium mix. I've grown in spagnum before, but I don't recommend it.
Incidentally, I weakened and ordered a milt yesterday, so I'll soon be in the dilemna of do I repot it (when it arrives) So...I'll watch the thread too to see what others say.


Btw, your plant looks happy...so glad to not see accordion leaves.

[RandomGemini]

Depends. How humid is it where you will be growing this plant? I grow my Oncidiums in a mix that is mostly moss with some chunky bark tossed in to prevent it from compacting and I find that they do best this way. I grow them in my house, under lights. It gets quite dry in my house in the winter. If your humidity stays in the 30-40% range and you have grown in moss before, there's no reason not to now. You just have to be careful about it getting compacted and staying too wet for too long.

[Pattywack]

Hmmm, humidity stays around 40% or higher as I have several plants in the same area and mist daily. Some plants are grown in bowls and or small terrariums with damp moss so this adds to the humidity for me. This Miltoniopsis sits in its cashe pot on top of wine corks and this keeps moisture and humidity around the plant.

I have two or three accordion leaves somewhere on here but for the most part it has grown well and not had a problem with humidity. I was thinking of using a clay pot but I'm just not sure if I want to try that. The plant has grown so well for me I would hate to compromise its health in choosing the wrong pot.

---------- Post added at 11:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:51 PM ----------

Dbarron please post pictures of your new Miltoniopsis when it arrives! I would like to add another, they bloom for ever and smell soooo sweet!

[LovePhals]

I have my Miltonopsis in oncidium mix from repot me. Its doing great! Coco husks mainly with chunky peices.

[Pattywack]

LovePhals do you grow in a plastic pot or clay? Mine is so top heavy I am considering a clay pot, just not sure yet.

[dbarron]

Pattywhack, my previous couple of milts (years ago) were always top heavy...growing so much. You remind me of that...if I repot, I think I'll put it in something too large, just so I can fill the bottom with some large rocks or something.
Having saw what sort of a mess repotting several species of orchids from a clay pot can be, I think I'll avoid clay. I really don't want to have to use a hammer to repot.

[Pattywack]

dbarron, thanks for the input. I had not thought about the problems of clay but you are probably correct. I bet the roots would attach to the pot eventually and really be difficult to remove. Looks like a larger plastic pot is the best way for me to go. If this plant blooms again, it will really be top heavy and I would hate to see it fall over.
Large pot with lava rock in the bottom would be a good idea. I understand these do not want to be over potted but I believe that is mostly to avoid overwatering. When I last repotted this it never missed a beat, just kept growing.
Good luck with your new Miltoniopsis, post a picture. Mine is a NOID sadly, which one did you buy?

[dbarron]

Don't get me wrong, many orchids love the porous texture of the clay and do really well. I'm selfish though, I am thinking of myself later. I ordered Lennart Karl Gottling from Hausermann, my credit card was charged yesterday, so hopefully I'll get a tracking number today.
It was an add on...after a week of waiting for my orchids to ship (cold weather had them backlogged), I found something in their 'new arrivals' page (that milt) that I felt I just had to have (at that price).
I hate accordian leaves...I'll try to do better this time.