Miltonia woes: first won't flower, then making brown leaves

[irrka]

Hi! I got a miltonia from Trader joes a couple of years ago. I repotted it into S/H after it was done flowering andhad it on a morning light kitchen window but it would never reflower (making new bulbs though). I tried putting into a lower light area in the bathroom but then it started making central leaves brown on the pseudobulbs.
Please help!!!!

[Ray]

First question: is it a miltonia or miltoniopsis?

If the former, it likes warm conditions. If the latter, cooler conditions.

[estación seca]

See the pleated leaves? That means it isn't getting enough water. How do you water it? How often are you watering? Are you keeping the reservoir full?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Ray

First question: is it a miltonia or miltoniopsis?

If the former, it likes warm conditions. If the latter, cooler conditions.

I strongly suspect Miltoniopsis. Along with the pleated leaves indicating not enough water as noted by ES, the leaves (if I'm correct) are fairly dark for the genus - indicating not enough light (Mintoniopsis seem to be quite happy with very light, almost gray-green leaves) As for "Miltonia" vs "Miltioniopsis" for temperature, my experience is the exact opposite of Ray's ... Miltonias do nicely outside where I live (winter nights into the low 40's F or a bit lower) but Miltoniopsis just don't do well for me in general... it's either too warm or too cold... I think they just like a narrow range - like maybe 50-80 deg F, objecting on both ends of the scale. House temps should be fine, but I am guessing that this plant wants both more water and more light.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by irrka

I repotted it into S/H after it was done flowering and had it on a morning light kitchen window but it would never reflower (making new bulbs though). I tried putting into a lower light area in the bathroom but then it started making central leaves brown on the pseudobulbs.

What sort of media is being used now in that pot?

Some orchids do grow in bathrooms. But also sometimes have to watch out for places that may have still-air. Gentle air-movement is often beneficial.

The 'accordion' effect or pleated leaves effect is an indicator of the orchid not getting enough water into it. Could maybe think of it as a stop-start effect.

[irrka]

Originally Posted by estación seca

See the pleated leaves? That means it isn't getting enough water. How do you water it? How often are you watering? Are you keeping the reservoir full?

Have been watering once a week. And it's in expanded clay with a water reservoir at the bottom (i.e. S/H)

[irrka]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I strongly suspect Miltoniopsis. House temps should be fine, but I am guessing that this plant wants both more water and more light.

here's another picture of the leaf color: it's actually pretty light since i'm in Seattle and most of the place is getting western light (the very blocked southern exposure at the kitchen window was as far away as i could get it from the western windows where my cattaleyas are hanging out

It's in expanded clay aggregate beads with a water reservoir at the bottom. I have coconut choir at the top for increased humidity since it's dry as all get out despite being close to the sound.

[irrka]

Originally Posted by Ray

First question: is it a miltonia or miltoniopsis?

If the former, it likes warm conditions. If the latter, cooler conditions.

honestly i have no idea anymore.... it's been a long while?

[Fairorchids]

Based on the height of the old pseudobulbs in first photos, I think it is a miltonia.
Based on how shrivelled it looks, it is clearly not getting enough water.
If you water enough, these plants can tolerate (demand?) quite high light levels.

[SouthPark]

One thing to do is to take a look inside the pot.

Remove the coconut coir first, and then - in any careful way you can ----- remove the orchid from the media ----- to check on the condition of the roots. And also check on the state of the media --- eg. see if the media is dry at toward the top and middle levels of the pot.

If it gets very dry after a few days, or after the 1 week that you have between watering ------ then it will either be necessary to water a bit more, or take a closer look at the set-up.