Spike on my miltonia

[snowflake311]

My Sherry baby spiked for me but lost its flowers shortly after they all opened. I think it is due to me stressing the plant out. I kept inside and outside hot and cold. I think it was too much for it.

I was kind of bumed out about it and thought maybe I should give up on orchids. I also killed a Phal this summer but I also got a friend to rebloom. SO its been a weird summer for growing orchids you win some and you lose some I guess.

Well One of my first orchids that was not a Phal I got for $4 on clearance because it was out of spike. It is a miltonia orchid. I have no clue what the flowers will be like I call it my mystery orchid. It's been growing like a weed for me but with crincked leaves. I repotted it 2 times just because I wanted it to grow well. I did not know what I was doing when I first repotted it.

Now it seems to be happy. It's in a good size plastic pot with holes drilled all around the outside. I put it in a Peat perlite mix. The new leaves are looking better now. The best part it I HAVE A SPIKE!

When I got this plant it was sad looking and very stressed. I got it in September of last year. By feb 2015 I had 5 little new growths. Today I was watering and I saw a 2 inch spike. I am so happy.

[campchi]

Good job, I am having a hard time keeping them alive in SoCal

[snowflake311]

Could be too warm? I am in Tahoe it never gets that hot here. I don't care what others say these orchid love to moist all the time. They also love a good amount of light. I have even put mine in direct light it was fine.

I am keeping this on inside now because it likes the cooler temps. It's in an east facing window with peat moss / perlite mix. This seems to make this plant happy. I fertilize when ever I can remember to.

[LovePhals]

Congrats. Yes try not to move the plants around so much so they can acclimate to one environment and you will have better luck.

[campchi]

I guess SoCal is too hot for these type of orchid. Anyways, I will give it another sometimes this Year

[ThePinkCucumber]

Congrats! It's sometimes nice to have an orchid you don't know what the blooms look like - you get a nice surprise, almost like Christmas

[snowflake311]

Originally Posted by ThePinkCucumber

Congrats! It's sometimes nice to have an orchid you don't know what the blooms look like - you get a nice surprise, almost like Christmas

It is fun to get mystery orchids I have Phal that I bought discount no bud it bloomed and I am very happy with it.

[DeaC]

Glad it's responding to your good culture! Now I'm learning from what you've experienced and hope to do as well.(oh to be in Tahoe!).

[snowflake311]

Looks like I have 4 spikes maybe 5. Here are 2 of them. The plant has wrinkle accordion leaves. But I have it under control now different pot and different media. I also water it a lot more. Or try too. This is a needy plant.

[judith_arquette]

Yay!!! Great job!