Miltonia question - Orchid Board

DDP · #1 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 06:47 PM

Okay...I have never posted to the Orchid Board so I guess now is the time. I am a novice orchid grower and have spent the last few months raising my orchids via the trial and error method. I have used this site to gather a fair amount of information and certainly value it. I have a question (one of many that are sure to come) regarding a Miltonia roezlii. The tips of the leaves continue to brown and spread down the leaf. I cannot determine what I might be doing wrong. I water it when it is dry, it lives on my covered lania in Kihei, Maui so it gets a fair amount of shaded light. I got it as a gift in July 2006. At that time it had one beautiful and fragrant bloom. Since then, it appears to not have grown and the tips of the leaves continue to brown.

Ross · #2 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 08:02 PM

Firstly... welcome

Second, let me guess, do you fertile every time you water? If so that sounds like fertilizer burn. You MUST flush clear water through the pots evry week or so.

Barbara · #3 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 10:49 PM

Welcome.
I have read that Miltonia like shady, moist, humid environment with good air circulation. When was it last repotted? You don't want the 'soil' to breakdown too much, the wetter you keep the mix, the faster it breaks down and most orchids aren't happy about stagnant soil. What does the new growth look like, if it is browning than that isn't a good thing. However, the older leaves will begin to brown, or yellow as the plant grows out new leaves. Do you have a picture?

I'm sure there are people here who can help too, good luck.

Phantasm · #4 (**permalink**) 02-04-2007, 04:03 PM

Miltoniopsis like to be evenly moist and if you let them get dry they will suffer. Water them before you think they are dry...If you pick up the plant and it's very light, you've waited too long. Also, the new leaves will grow with "accordian pleating"...They appreciate (demand!) annual repotting, usually in the fall, and grow easily with lots of water and regular fertilizer when actively growing.

Milt.roezlii is one of the warmer growing Miltoniopsis, so that should work fine with your climate...

Tindomul · #5 (**permalink**) 02-04-2007, 07:34 PM

Welcome to the Orchid Board!!!! I hope someone here has helped. My only suggestion is to check for pests just to rule it out. I don't think it is, but just to be safe. Overwatering usually causes yellowing from the base to the tip. Burning from the tip to the base.

ScottMcC · #6 (**permalink**) 02-05-2007, 06:19 AM

I had a similar problem with my Miltonia Echo Bay. What I did was switch to fertilizing with much weaker fertilizer (75 ppm N instead of 125 ppm). Worked like a charm, and it's growing well now!

cneos · #7 (**permalink**) 02-05-2007, 03:39 PM

Ditto on underwatering ... roezlii likes even moisture (not soggy) all the time. When plant is not watered enough, new leaves are pleated ... pleated leaves never recover but a good sign after you're watering properly is that new leaves will be smooth/flat.

Ross · #8 (**permalink**) 02-05-2007, 04:23 PM

People! His problem wasn't pleated leaves (underwatering). His problem was browning of the tips, progressing down. That is a clear sypmtom (usually) of fertilizer build-up in the root area of most orchids. Sorry. But it seems so clear to me.

terrestrial_man · #9 (**permalink**) 02-06-2007, 05:27 AM

Well DDP,
Just how much fertilizer do you apply to
your plant? I do not think that you are watering it enough.
What is it growing in? Clay pot, plastic pot, net pot. What kind of mix: stryafoam, bark, gravel, s/h, ??
What is the color of your leaves: dark green or light green.
How deep are the bulbs planted into the mix?
I have a Miltonia cuneata and I grow it in my debris mix in a small net pot and it gets sprayed daily with a slight soaking of the mix. It is shaded with roughly 600 ft candles, prob. too much shade. Temps range from 60F-80F daily or at least I try to maintain this range with humidity in the 70s%. It sets in the path of my fan so is quite well aerated. I will post image so you can see what it looks like. Check terrestrial-man.

Phantasm · #10 (**permalink**) 02-06-2007, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsfrid

People! His problem wasn't pleated leaves (underwatering). His problem was browning of the tips, progressing down. That is a clear sypmtom (usually) of fertilizer build-up in the root area of most orchids. Sorry. But it seems so clear to me.

My point is that the plant needs more moisture. When they don't get enough the results are leaf tip die back and pleated leaves. If there is enough regular moisture, neither symptom will result as long as the mix is flushed regularly even with regular fertilizing. The pleated leaves are very indicative of a lack of water or a broken down mix in miltoniopsis.