When to divide miltoniopsis

[snowflake311]

I saved this miltoniopsis over a year ago. It bloomed for me and I got a lot of flowers I think 13. I have 8 more new growths on it. This plant is going to be a beast. It is hard to count the Bulbs but I will have around 17 bulbs when the new growth is fully grown. I repotted it not too long ago so there is room in the pot for the growth.

When do you divide your plants? Do you ever? Do you think it is good for the plant or is bigger better? Divided my Sherry baby and it seems to be doing fine I have some new growth on the way.

[jcec1]

Funnily enough, yesterday I just divided one that sounds about the same size as yours. All the growths were on the one side, so I didn't like the fact that eventually one side would be old and tatty. I split it down the middle of the new growths and centred this area in the new pots. I like to keep my orchids smallish as I worry about the media not drying in the centre of the pot.

[bil]

Originally Posted by jcec1

Funnily enough, yesterday I just divided one that sounds about the same size as yours. All the growths were on the one side, so I didn't like the fact that eventually one side would be old and tatty. I split it down the middle of the new growths and centred this area in the new pots. I like to keep my orchids smallish as I worry about the media not drying in the centre of the pot.

You can get past that by using shallow pans. I make mine out of cylindrical pots, and tend to keep them shallow. ie 3-5 inches deep for milts etc. That way the centre of the pot is close to the air, no matter what the diameter.

[gngrhill]

I divided a large one last spring into 3 pieces. One of them bloomed in August, the other 2 did not bloom this time. I know what you mean by them being a beast. They grow like weeds. They are already filling the new pots I put them in

[Fairorchids]

Miltonionopsis prefers:

Repotting every year
Fine medium (I use sdlg size bark, charcoal & perlite in 3:2:1 ratio)
To be rootbound (in small pots)

Typically each bulb grows 2 new ones. 2 year divisions (= one 2 yr old + two 1 yr old bulbs) do well. Divide & repot just before/as new growth starts, usually late March or April.

Growing specimen plants is possible, but they often turn one-sided. I never go beyond 3 year divisions (w 4 leads).