Why are Miltoniopsis (Pansey Orchid) not popular

[AJW]

Info indicates there has been quite a gap from when Miltoniopsis (Mps) were first discovered and subsequently started to appear in collections and on display at shows.
Down under in New Zealand there appears to be a resurgence but a shortage of stock.
I stumbled upon them by accident and have been lucky having plants awarded and gained a place at shows.
Mps have there growing challenge but surly that is part of the overall orchid game. The attached photos are but of a few I have flowered and my set up I will enjoy any feedback. Yellow ones seem to be the most difficult to obtain so a group in NZ are about to embark on an Yellow Mps breeding program.

[estación seca]

Everybody loves them, but a typical US house is too warm and too dry for them most of the year. Outdoors is even worse.

[marcmaubert]

I've tried and failed.

[jcec1]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Everybody loves them, but a typical US house is too warm and too dry for them most of the year. Outdoors is even worse.

Here in the UK, I can grow then easily under typical house conditions, temperatures are much cooler and humidity is greater. It's that old adage of finding the right plant for your conditions rather than trying to change the conditions to suit the plant. That's why i haven't atempted to grow Tolumnia as i don't think i could get them to dry out quickly enough.

But then there are also some who like the challenge

[Spearperson]

Those are some great looking plants. What is your watering setup? Daily/weekly drip? How much how long?

[MrHappyRotter]

I think they're popular here in the USA, just many people can't grow them. Problem is, in much of the country the climate simply isn't conducive to growing and blooming Miltoniopis without a lot of effort and expense. Absent that, they just aren't very resilient. When you're already growing them at the extreme range of their preferences, one minor mistake and they tend to drop all their leaves and just fade away -- at the very least they look ratty for years and won't bloom. Challenge is fine, but Miltoniopsis are well into the difficult range of things to grow well and bloom consistently in many parts of the USA (and world). Few would want to spend lots of time, effort, and money on a plant when one little mistake can very easily spell its demise.

There are also financial implications here, too. A huge amount of orchid breeding and propagation at the international scale is done in tropical and subtropical regions and a large percentage of the intended market for those plants is countries, like the US, that don't have a great climate for Miltoniopsis. Nurseries want to maximize their profits, they're going to select things that people want. People want long lasting flowers, but without the right conditions, Miltoniopsis flowers won't provide that. Other people want plants they can grow and bloom again, and once more, without the right conditions Miltoniopsis won't provide that. So, when the choice is to produce good selling and inexpensive to raise Phalaenopsis versus tougher to sell and more expensive to raise Miltoniopsis, the market's going to go for Phals.

In addition, Miltoniopsis has a lot of competition from its own intergeneric hybrids. You can get a similar look, but a much more vigorous and warmth tolerant plant if you breed in some warmer and more tolerant genes from other genera like Oncidium. These sort of take the place of pure Miltoniopsis in people's collections.

And, let's not forget that like everything else, the orchid hobby is subject to trends and fashion. It may not be the most popular genus right now, but things change. Plants that are popular today fall out of favor, and others that are relatively unknown or which have fallen by the wayside will take their place. There may be some breakthroughs in warmth tolerance, for example, that opens up new markets and opportunities. Lucrative emerging markets in areas with better climates for Miltoniopsis might drive more production and more popularity to the genus.

[estación seca]

Echo above. I would have lots of Miltoniopsis if I could grow them.

[jcec1]

Originally Posted by MrHappyRotter

... Lucrative emerging markets in areas with better climates for Miltoniopsis might drive more production and more popularity to the genus.

Here in the UK they are one of the most frequently seen orchids for sale in the likes of Ikea, grocery stores and big box stores. I think they are bred and grown in the Netherlands - they are cheap about £5 ($7) and plentiful. It makes sense given that here they are not too difficult, plus they have huge colourful blooms that are popular with "non-orchid" people. They are probably made for that treat them like cut flowers market and are expected to be tossed once finished flowering.

[No-Pro-mwa]

This is one that just has never struck me I had to have. Well funny, but I really do love the yellow ones. And that dark red one is gorgeous. I would have the cooler conditions they like but not the humidity. So there out for me.

[estación seca]

I think the various orchids sold here in Ikea, home improvement stores and supermarkets are likewise regarded as disposable flower arrangements.