Miltonia spectabilis var. Morelliana x Seminole Blood 'Jaguar Dawn' in spike
 

Here's another of my May eBay buys. I bought this plant with the understanding that it was NBS, but guess what! Since putting it outside over the last two weeks it is definitely coming into spike!!!!! I'm so excited!

I was told they like bright light and lots of water. At first I kept it in south-facing window where (I have big trees all around me btw) it would get a couple hours at least of direct afternoon light then shade, sort of bright shade. Then I put outside, it's been rained on several times, and it gets morning light and I believe some direct afternoon light! (I will monitor this last factor because three days ago we just ended three days of rain and cloudy skies so now we have hotter temps and sunny skies which means the light will be more intense and I may have to move). Also when I first got this plant I was pretty worried as it started getting sort of orange (already was told the yellowish-green is normal for them) and the orange/yellow progressed and the older bulb lost a leaf and looked to be losing the second one. I worried and worried and watered more then it seemed to adapt finally.

Both the parents of this plant are super pretty, I can't wait to see the result!


Miltonia spectabilis var. Morelliana x Miltonia Seminole Blood 'Jaguar Dawn'

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And I love how compact this guy is! :biggrin:

Nice! Please post the blooms
I'm a little paranoid about my spikes-once they start to mature I pull them inside to protect them from odd weather, our happy dogs and leaf hoppers.

Thank you and I'm excited to be able to do so. I went back and looked through my messages and relearned that it's not actually a surprise, it was possible it'd bloom in the fall.

I hear ya, I'm def thinking about bringing it in especially too since I would like to admire the flowers for a time being. My Paph. President Fred has been outside the whole time it's had two blooms and I sort of feel like I'm missing out! But on the other hand I worry if being outside is what made it happy than will Miltonia even like being back inside??

Cool

FINALLY THE FIRST BLOOM!
 

Way back at the end of June I first posted that this plant was in spike. (Perhaps I give it too much sun and maybe not enough water...?) But the other day the first of for buds opened and is fully open today. It's an interesting looking flower for sure, but I like it a lot and its sort of artsy shading. I also really like the spotting, the jaguar/leopard-like quality of the pattern.

I was intrigued by the progression of the buds as well. While starting out green they then turned yellow several weeks before this opened. Then about a week or so before blooming I noticed some darker, purple spots in the bud. Within days of blooming the entire bud turned itself on the petiole and turned just about the color of the bloom you see. The two lowest buds have been more advanced with the two highest which have yet to really even yellow and increase in size.

Enjoy!

Miltonia specatabilis var. Morelliana x Seminole Blood 'Jaguar Dawn'

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Gorgeous! Great work, congrats! :)

Beautiful!

Update...
 

That first bloom fell off today. Prior to its dying I noticed they do turn slightly more yellow as they age and unfortunately DO NOT :(:(:( have a pleasant fragrance. I brought this plant inside after all the blooms opened along with my Onc. Heaven Scent (wonderful fragrance). I don't know if the bloom death is normal or if it's related to my bringing it in where the temps are cooler, more consistent, and it doesn't receive nearly as much or as intense light levels.

Here's some more recent pictures:

The last two buds to open, still pretty new...

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This is the first bloom again - from first pics - but now older and lighter in color
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I'm looking at this cross on ebay. Can you elaborate on it's "not having a pleasant fragrance?" What type of fragrance is it? I've noticed that sometimes I will hate the smell of a flower but someone can come along and smell it right after me and love it, so maybe I would like it? ;) I love the look of the flowers.

I just bought this same cross off Ebay. It hasn't arrived yet but it sounded so interesting.