Miltonia spectabilis is native to Brazil. They are widely distributed on the east coast along the Pernambuco state border in the north by Bahia, Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo...
Miltonia spectabilis also called as The Outstanding Miltonia, Macrochilus fryanus, Miltonia bicolor, Miltonia spectabilis var. aspersa, Miltonia spectabilis var. bicolor, Miltonia spectabilis var. lineata, Miltonia spectabilis var. porphyroglossa, Miltonia spectabilis var. virginalis, Miltonia spectabilis var. radians, Oncidium spectabile, is a species of the genus Miltonia. This species was described by John Lindley in 1837.
IDENTIFY MILTONIA SPECTABILIS
Miltonia spectabilis is native to Brazil. They are widely distributed on the east coast along the Pernambuco state border in the north by Bahia, Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. In Espirito Santo, the variation of spectabilis and apricot are found near Cachoeiro de Itapemirim at an altitude of around 800 m.
It is a medium sized, warm to cool growing epiphyte, which reaching 18-30 cm in height, that has ovate-oblong, compressed, yellowy, 4-10 cm long pseudobulbs carrying 2 apical, linear-ligulate, rounded apically, 10-30 cm long leaves.
The Outstanding Miltonia blooms in the summer and fall on a racemose, axillary, erect or arching, to 20 cm long, single flowered inflorescence arising with a new pseudobulb growth and subtended by imbricating sheaths and bracts that completely cover the ovary. The flowers are about 7.5 cm in diameter and last about a month, and sometimes longer as long as the plants are kept in a cool and poorly lit place. The outer and inner petals are more or less the same size, but the inner petals may be slightly wider. The open flower is flat, with the exception of the inner petals which are often curved along their apical part. Perianth petals are usually white, but they can be pink. The large, single-lobed lip is usually pink with deep red purple base and darker veining. The color of flowers is very diverse, so there are many names of cultivars. The most known is probably Miltonia spectabilis var. Henfrey's apricot, which has slightly larger flowers than other varieties. The color of the perianth petals is also varied, but they are usually plum-purple with a white or pale-pink base. The large lip is pale pinkish purple with a network of darker veins. Another well known variation is var. alba, which is completely white except for the small yellow thickening of the lip; var. bicolor, which has shiny white flowers with a large purple spot at the base of the lip. Var. lineata is more colorful than Var. bicolor with 7-9 purple lines radiating from the purple spot at the base of the lip to its edges; var. radians are white with 6 radiant purple lines on the lip of the lip, and var. rosea includes pale pink to pink colors with a varying number of purple lines on the lip.
MILTONIA SPECTABILIS CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Miltonia spectabilis needs a light level of 15000-30000 lux. Continuous strong air movement is recommended, especially when the plants are grown in strong sunlight. This species grow very well under fairly bright lighting, but in such a strong light their leaves tend to take on a yellow color.
Temperature:
It is a plant with moderate thermal requirements. The average temperature of the summer day is 24-26 ° C, night 18 ° C, which gives a daily amplitude of 7-8 ° C. The average temperature of the winter day is 20-21 ° C, and the night 13-14 ° C, with a daily amplitude of 7 ° C. However, Miltonia spectabilis var. bicolor requires 3-4 ° C warmer temperatures than other varieties.
Humidity:
The Outstanding Miltonia needs the average humidity of 80-85% throughout the year.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Due to the spreading and creeping habit, Miltonia spectabilis are easily grown on tree trunks or cork. In the case of plants mounted on rootstocks, high humidity should be ensured, and in the summer the plants should be watered at least once a day. In the period of extremely hot and dry weather, attached plants may require even several waterings during the day.
They can also grown in pots or baskets filled with a loose, fast-drying substrate consisting mainly of fine fir bark or tree fern fibers. Normally, various amounts of materials such as perlite and charcoal are also added to obtain an easily dripping substrate, which simultaneously holds a certain amount of moisture. Small pots should be used so that only the roots fit and there is room for one or two-year growth.
Substrate maintained in continuous humidity decomposes relatively quickly, so annual repotting is more beneficial for plant health. Repotting should be done when the growth of new roots begins, which allows the plant to get rooted in the new container the fastest.
Watering:
During active growth, Miltonia spectabilis should be watered frequently. The amount of water should be gradually reduced in autumn, when new growths are already ripe and flowering has finished.
Fertilizer:
During the period of strong growth, the plants should be fertilized every week with 1/4-1/2 of the recommended dose of fertilizer for orchids. You can use low-nitrogen fertilizer in late summer and autumn, and high phosphorus content. It improves flowering in the next season and strengthens new growth before winter.
Every few weeks, the substrate should be rinsed to avoid the formation of mineral deposits, especially when using high doses of fertilizers.
Rest period:
In winter, the amount of water should be further reduced, especially if Miltonia spectabilis are grown in a dark, short day, which occurs in moderate latitudes. However, do not allow them to completely dry out. In most cases, such conditions can provide occasional morning fogging combined with very light watering every 2-3 weeks, especially when sunny weather is expected. Fertilization should be limited or should be completely abandoned until spring, when stronger watering resumes.
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