Miltoniopsis Andrea West is a sympodial orchid with 7 cm long and 3-3.5 cm wide pseudobulbs which growing quite tightly to each other, that have a single leaf at the top, and on the sides also covered with 3 pairs of leaves of different lengths.
Miltoniopsis Andrea West is a hybrid between Miltoniopsis Capitola and Miltoniopsis Doctor Ruth Ono. This hybrid was registered in 2001, it sometimes comes under the name Miltonia Andrea West.
IDENTIFY MILTONIOPSIS ANDREA WEST ORCHID PLANT
Miltoniopsis Andrea West is a sympodial orchid with 7 cm long and 3-3.5 cm wide pseudobulbs which growing quite tightly to each other, that have a single leaf at the top, and on the sides also covered with 3 pairs of leaves of different lengths.
The leaves are lanceolate, 25-29 cm long and 3-3.5 cm wide. Peduncles appear from the sinuses between the leaves, shortly before the maturation of the new pseudobulb, reach up to 40 cm in length.
There are up to 6 flowers per peduncle. Flowers are fragrant, white with a small amount of yellow or red-brown in the middle of the flower, in their form resemble Pansies, about 10-11 cm in size in diameter. Sepals are lanceolate, with pointed tips, about 2.5 cm long and 1.5-2 cm wide. Petals oval, 2.5 cm long and 2-2.5 cm wide.
MILTONIOPSIS ANDREA WEST 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:
Miltoniopsis Andrea West is grown both in bright diffused light and in partial shade. The ideal location is considered to be the windows of the east orientation, however, if there are none in the apartment, then you can use the western or very bright northern windows. If western or southern windows were chosen as a plant location, then from May to early September, the orchid should be protected from the effects of too bright day and evening sun - placed behind a curtain or in the shade of other plants. With intense sun exposure, orchid leaves turn greenish-yellow to reddish in color. Ideally, from April to September, the plant are kept on the eastern windows (in summer it is quite light, but not hot), and from October to March - on the southern windows.
Temperature:
This hybrid belongs to a moderate temperature regime, and throughout the year it is recommended to keep this orchid under the following conditions: Day temperature at not higher than 25 ° C (ideally 18-22 ° C); Night temperature not below 12 ° C (ideally 15-17 ° C). For successful cultivation at home, it is very important that the night temperature of the content is always 5-6 ° C lower than the daytime.
Humidity:
Miltoniopsis Andrea West need the humidity of 55-70%. Too dry air adversely affects the development of the orchid and its growth is inhibited, provoking the appearance of various kinds of deformations. To increase the humidity of the air around the plant on hot sunny days when the air temperature rises above 25 ° C, spraying the outside of the plant is recommended. However, it is highly undesirable to spray the plant in the evening, since in the evening the water evaporates badly and the accumulation of water in the grooves between the leaves can very quickly lead to their decay.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
This orchid is mainly grown in pots. The substrate should be not only well breathable, but also, whenever possible, moisture-intensive. The most recommended mixture: 60% of the bark of coniferous trees, 20% peat or peat moss, 15% foam, 5% quartz sand, 5 gr lime and 1 gr gypsum. Pots for planting need to choose small and narrow, since the root system of the plant is rather small and develops relatively slowly. If there is a lot of free space in the pot, the substrate will slowly dry out and the root system may start to rot. In order for the orchid not to fall, it is recommended to use heavy clay pots.
The roots of Miltoniopsis Andrea West are very sensitive to various kinds of salts (calcium, potassium, phosphorus, etc.), which regularly get into the substrate with irrigation water and fertilizer, therefore, it is recommended to replant this hybrid no less than every 2 years. The best time for transplanting is the period immediately after flowering and until the moment when new young shoots begin to grow their own roots. A transplant in the summer period is highly undesirable, since at high temperatures the orchid can get severe stress and die. When transplanting Miltoniopsis Andrea West into a new pot, you must be careful to ensure that the sprouts are not deeply buried, otherwise water will constantly fall into the sinuses between the leaves when watering, which will inevitably lead to their decay.
Watering:
In the period from March to November, this hybrid needs frequent and abundant watering. The substrate between irrigations should dry relatively well, but not completely dry, i.e. always be slightly moist but not wet. This is especially important during the flowering period, since 100% over-drying of the substrate is fraught with drying out of the edges of flowers or their premature fading. In winter, watering orchids is somewhat reduced, and watering the orchid at this time is necessary only when the substrate dries out completely. 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 the lower part of the plant.
Fertilizer:
During the period of new growth fertilize this hybrid for every third watering in 1/2 or 1/4 of the concentration of fertilizer indicated on the package. In addition to the usual root feeding, it is also recommended to produce foliar, when the outer part of the plant is sprayed with very diluted fertilizer. It is best to feed the orchid, alternating between these two methods. At the beginning of the growing season (the emergence of new sprouts) it is recommended to apply fertilizer with a higher nitrogen content, and when the new sprout reaches 1/2 of its normal size, fertilizer with a higher phosphorus content. For the prevention of salinization of the substrate in the intervals between dressings, it is necessary to wash it well. To do this, the orchid must be placed under a stream of warm water and spilled several times.
Rest period:
Miltoniopsis Andrea West does not need a well-defined dormant period to stimulate flowering. However, closer to the time of maturation of new shoots, i.e. when they reach the size of old pseudobulbs, it is strongly recommended not to allow the total temperature of the content to exceed the mark of 24 ° C (ideally, at all, at the level of 20-22 ° C). If it is impossible to achieve this at home, it is best to keep the plant outdoors in the summer: on the balcony or in the garden. A place to choose from protected from rain, strong winds and direct sunlight.
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