MILTONIOPSIS

Miltoniopsis, the pansy orchid, has cooler-growing species  from the foothills of the Andes cloud forest in Colombia and other species that are native to the upper Amazon Basin, growing warmer. They have a light green foliage, which burns at the tips if the light is too strong.  They like a bit more light than phalaenopsis, 1200-1500 foot candles, about the same as paphiopedilums, but a little less than oncidiums.  In winter they can take the higher end of this range because temperatures are cooler, and better winter lighting promotes increased flower production in late spring.

We think miltoniopsis is an under-appreciated category of orchids.  The color range is large - white, pink, lavender, burgundy, yellow, black - and the flowers are large, usually around 3 inches across, but some exceeding 4 inches.  With proper conditions they bloom prolifically, up to 10 bloom spikes on mature plants.  The difficult part for the grower without a greenhouse is getting low enough temperatures in winter, down to 60 degrees at night for a period of 30 consecutive days, and enough light in winter.  A grow light could help supplement the weak light in winter.

Miltoniopsis is an epiphtye, growing on the side of trees or rocks.  As such it needs a porous potting medium.  We use a coir/peat/bark mixture, which drains well, but retains some water.  Miltoniopsis do not like the soil as wet as phalaenopsis, but wetter than cattleyas.  They should be fertilized on the lighter side, particularly in winter, when they are semi-dormant.

We have a collection of about 50 different colors of miltoniopis flowers.  Some are scented, particularly the yellow ones.  Some have a “waterfall” or  “tear drop” face, where darker lines drip down from the center against a lighter background color.  To see them in full flower, come visit us in May and June.  With hot weather they proceed to their vegetative stage, growing rapidly to make food for next year’s flowers.  They store this food in their thin pseudobulbs.            

PHALAENOPSIS WATERING

The most frequently asked question about phalaenopsis that we at Rainbeau are asked is "how much and when to water".  Because of the numerous plant tags, "Just Add Ice", three ice cubes, many people think that the ice is the important ingredient.  As we explain in our website, Phalaenopsis culture, more orchids die from too much water than too little.  If you melt 3 ice cubes, it's about 1/3rd of a cup of water.  Most of the "Just Add Ice" phalaenopsis are sold in pots without drainage holes of any sort, so the water that drains through the porous orchid potting medium ends up in the bottom of the container.  Too much water collecting in the bottom of the pot leads to fungus invasion and the orchid dies from fungus within  a couple of months.  The 3 ice cubes restricts the amount of water the customer is putting into the pot.  Recently, some growers have replaced the "Just Add Ice" tag with a paper cup, attached to the plant stake, holding about 1/3rd of a cup of water.  

Let's go back to basics.  Phalaenopsis is one of perhaps 20,000 members of the orchid family.  It is native to the Philippines, where the temperature rarely goes below 60 degrees and rarely above 80 degrees.  These plants grow in trees, wrapping their roots around the tree limbs to anchor themselves.  They are called "epiphytes" and they do NOT grow in soil.  The aerial roots are a survival adaptation because the Philippines get monsoons and very heavy rainfall through mot of the year.  The aerial roots permit the water to flow past without rotting the roots.  However, there is also a period, perhaps two months a year, of little or no rainfall, so the phalaenopsis roots are covered with a substance called velamin, a waxy substance to prevent evaporation and loss of precious moisture from the plant.  Phalaenopsis are also what are called "hard" leaves; they give up their moisture slowly and they too are waxy.  In contrast a hydrangea or chrysanthemum leaf  gives off lots of water to dissipate heat, like sweating in humans.

Orchids are a fairly recent addition to the American houseplant menu.  Most of us are used to pouring lots of water on plants that use it to cool down.  Phalaenopsis are a different animal, or plant.  Giving them lots of water, and keeping them in the no-drainage pot is a death warrant.

What should you do? - Take the phalaenopsis out of the pot about once a week, less frequently in winter, and run water through the soil until it runs out the bottom.  Ideally, this water has also been spiked with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer, like 30-10-10, at the rate of 1/4 teaspoon/1 gallon of water.  That simulates the meager nutrition they get in their native environment.  The nitrogen and other nutrients there are supplied by rotting vegetation and monkey dung, which washes down from above.  After letting the soil drip dry, replace the phalaenopsis in its outer pot.

Ice cubes on a tropical plant are a laughable piece of advice, but it does kept inexperienced orchid growers from overwatering.  Phalaenopsis can prosper in captivity, reblooming annually if you will just give them what they want.  Let them dry out thoroughly before watering, don't feed them too much, and, most of all, do not let them stand in water.