Miltonia orchid also called as pansy orchid, is an orchid genus. This genus was established by John Lindley in 1837. They originated from Central to Southern Brazil down to Argentina, mostly in Brazil.
Miltonia orchid also called as pansy orchid, is an orchid genus. This genus was established by John Lindley in 1837. They originated from Central to Southern Brazil down to Argentina, mostly in Brazil. Although the Miltonia orchids and Miltoniopsis orchids are similar, the distinction between the two is made by referring to the Miltonia orchids as the warmer-growing orchids which come from Brazil, and the Miltoniopsis orchids as the cooler-growing orchids which come from Columbia, Ecuador and Peru.
IDENTIFY MILTONIA ORCHID PLANT
Miltonia orchid are comparatively medium large orchid plants reaching about 50 cm height. They have flowers that bear similarities to Odontoglossum orchids but with much simpler lips, fragrant, and can grow as large as 4 inches across. Their flowers are mostly yellow with brown margins or white with a blush of lavender or violet. Miltonia orchids have two leaves on each pseudobulb while Miltoniopsis have only one.
Each species of this genus has its own specific and distinctive characteristics and growing needs based on the local environment where they grow naturally. Some of these Miltonia species are very difficult to grow while others are comparatively easy to cultivate. A novice grower should start with a stronger plant type, such as any Miltonia hybrid. Miltonia Orchids have slim arching stems, vibrant colors varying from bright reds, pink, white with tinted spotting, to a variety of yellows. These flowers have a very short bloom time just like that of a cut flower.
The peak of flowering of most species of Miltonia occurs in spring. Miltonia spectabilis and its hybrids bloom, as a rule, in the fall, Miltonia schroederiana - both in spring and summer. The total duration of flowering in a group of 2-3 months. The exception is Miltonia warscewiczii, its flowering can begin in spring and end only in the autumn of next year.
MILTONIA ORCHID PLANT 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 is not demanding the bright sunlight. It can be grown in bright ambient light, and in partial shade. On the windows of the southern orientation at noon and on the western after 15 hours, the orchid should be protected from direct sunlight: put behind a curtain or in the shadow of other plants.
Temperature:
They grow best at intermediate temperatures, day temperature at 21-26°C, dropping 18-21°C at night. For successful cultivation of this type of orchid, it is necessary that the night temperature always be 3 ° C lower than the daytime.
Humidity:
When growing Miltonia at home, the humidity should be 60-80%. Cold temperature orchids do not tolerate temperatures well over 30 ° C. If it is impossible to avoid exposure to high temperatures, it is necessary to increase the humidity of the air along with the temperature. This will help Miltonia survive the forced heat better. At that time, the air humidity should be at least 80-90%. To increase the humidity of the air, you can use a humidifier, water saucers or wet clay. For this, a large pallet is taken, inside of which expanded clay is poured, a grate protecting the wetting of the roots is placed on top and pots with orchids are set. Orchid premises should be regularly ventilated, as too humid stale air is an ideal medium for the development of various fungal diseases.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Miltonia orchid plant are mainly grow in pots. A mixture of bark of coniferous trees with peat and small pieces of a sponge is best suited as a substrate.
It is recommended to replant this type of orchid every 1-2 years, since the substrate during this period manages to lose all its beneficial properties. The best time for transplanting is the period immediately after flowering and until the moment when new sprouts reach a size of 5 cm and begin to grow their own roots. Transplantation during the hot summer period is extremely undesirable, since this may lead to a prolonged non-blooming orchid.
When transplanting into a new pot, it is necessary to carefully monitor that new sprouts are not deeply buried, as they are very sensitive to decay. At the bottom of the pot should be put a thick layer of drainage.
Watering:
One of the most difficult moments in the care of this type of orchid is watering. During the period of growth, Miltonia needs frequent and abundant watering. Excess water during irrigation should flow freely from the pot, since stagnation of water both inside the pot and in its pan can very quickly lead to rotting of the roots and lower parts of the plant. The substrate between waterings should dry up, but in no case should not dry out completely. This is especially important during the blooming of the orchid, since re-drying is fraught with very fast drying of both flowers and buds.
In the hot summer period, daily spraying of the outer part of the plant is recommended, this will increase the humidity of the air around the orchid and help it better survive the heat and prevent the occurrence of the spider mite . It is necessary to spray a plant only in the first half of the day, so that in the evening the water had time to dry. The new sprouts of Miltonia are very sensitive to rotting, therefore within two hours after spraying it is recommended to carefully wipe orchid leaves with paper napkins or handkerchiefs in order to remove excess water from the leaf axils.
Fertilizer:
During the period of new growth fertilize this type of orchid once a month in 1/3 of the concentration of fertilizer indicated on the package. Too concentrated fertilizer has a negative effect on the roots of Miltonia, they turn black, become slimy and die.
Rest period:
To stimulate flowering, Miltonia orchid plant needs a well-defined rest period. It begins immediately after the maturation of new bulbs (as a rule, at the beginning of autumn), i.e. when new young sprouts reach the size of old ones, the fact is that orchids are much drier and colder than usual and do not fertilize. The ideal temperature for this period is 15-16 ° C. It is necessary to water this orchid very sparingly, no more than once a week and in a small amount. After the appearance of peduncles, the dormant period ends: the watering of the orchid is resumed in the usual volume, and the total temperature of the content rises.
After flowering, the peduncles of most Miltonia species are removed, if necessary, the orchid is transplanted and kept dry for some time. This is necessary both for the rest of the orchid after abundant flowering and for the acclimatization of the plant after transplantation in order to prevent wound rotting on the roots. The exception here is Miltonia warscewiczii, the peduncles of which must be left uncut. Only the flowers themselves are cut off from it, as it subsequently forms lateral peduncles, and it blooms in this way without ceasing throughout the whole year.
BUY MILTONIA ORCHID PLANT AND RELATED PRODUCTS
SOME SPECIES ADND HYBRIDS OF MILTONIA WITH CARE TIPS AND CULTURE SHEET:
- Miltonia binotii - Binot's Miltonia
- Miltonia bluntii - Blunt's Miltonia
- Miltonia candida - The Snow-White Miltonia
- Miltonia clowesii - Clowes' Miltonia
- Miltonia cuneata - The Wedge-Shaped Miltonia
- Miltonia flavescens - The Yellowish Miltonnia
- Miltonia Honolulu - Miltonia hybrid
- Miltonia kayasimae - Kayasima's Miltonia
- Miltonia moreliana - Morel's Miltonia
- Miltonia phymatochila - Pad-Like Lip Miltonia
- Miltonia regnellii - Regnell's miltonia
- Miltonia russelliana - Russell's Miltonia
- Miltonia spectabilis - The Outstanding Miltonia
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