Miltoniopsis santanaei is found in Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador. In Venezuela, they grow about 60 km north of Tumeremo, in the north-east of the country. Their habitat is wet forests at an altitude of 600 m above sea level...
Miltoniopsis santanaei also called as Santana's Miltoniopsis, is a species of the genus Miltoniopsis. This species was described by Garay and Dunsterville in 1976.
IDENTIFY MILTONIOPSIS SANTANAEI
Miltoniopsis santanaei is found in Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador. In Venezuela, they grow about 60 km north of Tumeremo, in the north-east of the country. Their habitat is wet forests at an altitude of 600 m above sea level. In Ecuador, however, these plants are found on both sides of the Andes, where they grow epiphytically in mountain rainforests, at an altitude of 350-1000 m above sea level.
It is a small sized, cool to warm growing, caespitose epiphyte, which reaching 27 cm in height, with an ovoid-ellipsoid, compressed pseudobulb that is subtended by foliaceous bracts that are shorter than the single, linear, petiolate, acuminate leaf.
Santana's Miltoniopsis blooms in the summer on a 10 cm long, axillary, racemose inflorescence with ovate, acute floral bracts arising on a mature pseudobulb that are shorter than the leaves. The flowers are about 5 cm in diameter. The petals of both whorls are white with a yellow or green color at the base. The white lip has at its base yellow spots of the kidney shape and 5 slightly convex purple nerves.
MILTONIOPSIS SANTANAEI 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:
Miltoniopsis santanaei needs a light level of 15000-20000 lux. They creates the most flowers when it receives as much light as it can tolerate without damaging the leaves. The slightly pinkish color of the leaves indicates the optimal dose of light, while red, yellow or straw-colored leaves indicate too much light. The petals of inner and outer whorls of this Miltoniopsis bend at too high a level of light. The quality of flowers can often be improved if the bud is moved to a darker stand after the buds have formed.
Temperature:
It is a thermophilic plant. Throughout the year the average daily temperature is 28-30 ° C, night 18-19 ° C, which gives a daily amplitude of 9-12 ° C.
Humidity:
The humidity during the day for Santana's Miltoniopsis should be on average 70-80%, reaching at night a maximum of 80-90%, and in the afternoon a minimum of 50-60%. If high humidity in the winter creates problems with condensation, it can be slightly lowered. The strong air movement, however, prevents condensation, even when the humidity is high.
Substrate, growing media:
Delicate, thread-like roots of this Miltoniopsis are very easily damaged when the substrate is too dry or soggy. Remaining moist, the substrate must, however, ensure adequate drainage of excess water. You can use fine bark mixed with moisture-retaining materials, such as perlite or cut sphagnum moss. You can also use charcoal as additives, crushed oyster shells, peanut shells, thick peat, or chopped tree fern fibers. These additives vary depending on the experience in watering and general growing conditions.
Plastic pots are preferred because it is easier to keep moisture in them, but excellent drainage must be ensured. A layer of thick bark on the bottom of the pot improves the outflow of water. To improve it, you can also enlarge the holes in the pot, and even make additional ones by burning them with a suitable tool or cut-out. The fumes of melted plastic can be poisonous, so this should be done in the open or with good ventilation.
Repotting:
Santana's Miltoniopsis like annual repotting. In addition to complying with the basic requirements, annual repotting is the most important activity that can ensure success in growing. Do not overdo it in large pots! The plants should be planted into small pots, providing space for increments of only one year. When repotting these plants is not about translating the plant into a larger pot with the entire old, compact body of the substrate. The entire old substrate should be removed, all damaged or diseased roots cut off, and the plant placed in fresh medium and clean pot. It is best to perform repotting in the autumn when new roots begin to grow, and the new growth reaches half of the mature. Plant repotting at the beginning of winter will give her time to rush before the onset of hot summer days.
Watering:
The substrate of Miltoniopsis santanaei should always be kept moist. Do not let it completely dry. They are sufficiently moist with 2-3 times watering weekly, from spring to autumn. However, during hot, dry summers, the plants may require daily watering. However, during winter, often wet and gloomy, the plants can only be watered once every 2-3 weeks. The only time when the plant should be somewhat dried up is the period just after repotting, especially if it was repotted before the growth period of new roots. Regular watering resumes immediately after emergence of new roots in fresh soil.
Fertilizer:
During the active growth, the plant should be fertilized every week 1/4-1/2 of the recommended dose of fertilizer for orchids. You can use nitrogen-enriched fertilizers, e.g. 30-10-10, for almost a whole year. Instead, you can also use fertilizer with less nitrogen, and higher phosphorus, e.g. 10-20-10, every 3-4 weeks. Periodic application of a fertilizer with an increased amount of phosphorus improves flowering.
Sometimes there are problems with drying up the tips of mature leaves. Although this may be a sign of lack of water, it is usually a sign of excessive salinity of the substrate. Such accumulation of salt may be the result of fertilization or the use of highly mineralized water. To prevent this, it is necessary to rinse the substrate every few weeks, especially when using high doses of fertilizers.
Rest period:
It is important to maintain a daily temperature difference of 6-11 ° C. In winter, watering should be somewhat restricted, especially in the case of Miltoniopsis santanaei cultivated in dark, short days at moderate latitudes or when the temperature drops below 16 ° C at night. Just in a situation where there is less light, the day is short and the temperatures lower, the plants consume less water. However, do not allow them to completely dry out. If the amount of water supplied decreases, fertilization should also be reduced until new increments are created in spring.
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