Repot Question on Recently Purchased Miltoniopsis Edie Brown 'Jackpot'

[notasaddove]

Hi Everyone!

This might be a long set-up to my question, but I wanted to make sure you had all pertinent information before your assessment.

Last week I made a purchase from Hausermann that included several orchids, among them was my Miltoniopsis Edie Brown 'Jackpot' [as well as 2 other Miltoniopsis orchids: Miltoniopsis (Ambre x Lynne Waihee) 'Cream Puff' and Miltoniopsis Rene Komoda]. I ordered them on Wednesday (7/1), they were shipped on Thursday (7/2) around 4 pm, and received them on Friday (7/3) at around 1pm. The weather in IL and WI (Madison is where I am located) was not too hot or too cold. They did not sit around at all as I was home when Fedex dropped them off, so I opened the box immediately (and carefully) to unpack the box and inspect my new orchids.

When I unpacked my Jackpot, his flowers looked a little bruised, but I know shipping is tough on those so it was not a big deal. Like the others, I put him in a pot of water to soak as his media (sphagnum moss only) was dry (I did the touch test too-it was also crinkly-sounding).

I placed my new Miltoniopsis orchids in the same location as my phals (a west-facing window that receives a ton of indirect light as it is shaded by three mature maple trees and the orchids are at least 7 feet from the actual window). I have used this location for my phals with no issue as wells as my lipstick plant (which has been in bloom for at least two months, so the light and humidity are good in this location).

Today I noticed that a few of the roots started to turn brown with black tips. I decided to risk it and repot it (the flowers were basically done) in order to check the roots in the bottom of the pot. It was not a pretty landscape of plump, snow-white roots. Most of the roots were dark, dark brown and squishy, especially those right underneath the pseudobulbs. There was a huge clump of wet and moldy sphagnum moss at the core of the roots. I had to cut away a good chunk of the roots to get rid of the dying bits.

The second image shows the 'decay' more clearly, but my question is: Is it something I should contact Hausermann about (if they shipped an orchid that was declining in health)? I am not too familiar with this species, but the other two Miltoniopsis orchids that I ordered are doing just fine in their current (Hausermann) media. So was this Jackpot a "Dud-pot"? Is it normal to have the core part of the bulbs that dark color when you repot them?

[No-Pro-mwa]

You might see what they have to say. I don't have this species so not to sure but looks like Onc roots to me. It still looks like it has allot of good ones. When you re-pot it new roots will grow into the media you use any way. Sometimes when we use different media and I guess I am assuming you will be using something other than all spagh, the roots dye and start over.

Hopefully some one with more experience will chime in.

Welcome to Orchid board.

[notasaddove]

Thanks for your quick reply! I was worried that I caused that extent of damage in a little under a week. I repotted it in a clear, plastic pot in an airier mix (sphagnum, orchiata bark, and some charcoal). I would rather have to water more than worry about rot.

RE: Welcome to the Board - Thanks Shannon! I didn't want this to be my first introductory message :P, as I wanted to write a proper introduction in the intros thread.

[lotis146]

What I know about plants from Hausermann's is that while they're a very reputable grower and have great plants, they also have a lot of different people potting and repotting. Some people pot some plants really tight in sphag, I know I've gotten a number of plants from them and all the Phals I got had super dense moss that will stay moist for weeks and weeks, literally.

On the one hand I agree that you've still got plenty of healthy roots but beware with the others if they're packed as tight and you water them too much (unknowingly if you will) root death can occur in a relatively short amount of time. And I don't think it'd be so terrible to run it by them just what you've shared with us here.

And welcome, you've come to the right place!

[notasaddove]

lotis146 - Thanks for the reply. Since I needed to repot two oncidium orhcids, I decided to repot the other two miltoniopsis orchids.

They had the same issue at the core. I feel like I removed SO MUCH sphagnum moss. Hopefully the will be happy in their new media.

[lotis146]

I hope they will too, good luck! Monitor them for a bit until you learn how the new medium holds water (or not).

Keep us posted.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Glad you got them out of the tight moss. But as lotis say's watch them as when I re-pot things tend to dry out fast. I live in a very dry location.

[notasaddove]

I wanted to give an update. I ended up repotting and here is what the two look like (my Jackpot has no flowers, so I didn't include it).

Thanks for the advice and warm welcome!

[No-Pro-mwa]

Very pretty.

[ThePinkCucumber]

Beautiful blooms!