Rules for planting and caring for the Miltonia orchid at home, breeding methods
To grow a beautiful Miltonia orchid at home, you need to properly organize care, know how to transplant and protect yourself from possible dangers. And then a plant in a pot, surrounded with attention and care, will decorate any interior of the room, give it coziness and sophistication, and also give the joy of communicating with nature.
Description and peculiarities of the plant
Miltonia is a perennial plant of the orchid family that contains pseudobulbs, the length of which is 7-8 cm and the width is 4-5 cm. The flower is decorated with green foliage with a gray tint. The length of the platinum leaf varies from 35 to 40 cm. The flowers are placed on long peduncles that grow in the axils of the leaves. Large flowers 10-12 cm in diameter attract attention.The color palette is striking in its variety. There are specimens of white, red, purple, pink color.
Main varieties
Among the most popular types of orchids is the Miltonia, which has won praise from experienced flower growers.
Bright
Lateral inflorescences consist of 3-8 flowers. The color of the crown ranges from yellow to brown, and the lip is snow-white. Blooms in spring.
Yellowish
Forms a maximum of 10 flowers, about 8 cm in diameter, pale yellow. Flowering from April to June.
snow White
An orchid inflorescence consists of 5 large flowers. The cupules are yellow, the petals have brown or red spots on the surface, the labellum is snow-white.
Renelli
The plant can form 4-5 buds 6.5 cm wide, the sepals and petals turn white, and the color of the lips can range from light pink to purple.
Close
The orchid has 6 to 8 buds with an average diameter of 8 cm. The color of the sepals and petals is yellow with burgundy spots, the labellum is white with pink spots at the base.
Varshevich
This variety has large inflorescences. A brown or dark red crown has wavy edges. The lip is pink with a bright spot in the center and a white border.
Hybrid
The culture has large racemose flat inflorescences of various colors in the red-pink range.
Butterfly
The color palette is similar to Pensies and Phalaenopsis. Snow-white petals are sometimes complemented by crimson rays from base to tip.
Hudson Bay
The plant has a white-lilac color of petals and sepals with a dark reddish base.
Crimson Tide
This variety of orchid is valued for its large buds of a bright scarlet hue, its petals are dotted with small lines of a light tone.
St. Heller
The flowers of this variety, which are distinguished by white-pink petals and sepals, attract the attention of gardeners. The peculiarity of the species is that the crimson base stands out brightly.
wedge shaped
The inflorescences contain 4-6 flowers up to 7 cm in diameter. The crown is characterized by a yellow tint and the presence of burgundy spots, the lip has a white color.
Conditions of detention
Growing Miltonia orchids indoors requires compliance with certain rules. At the same time, the main secret of success is the creation of optimal conditions for an environment similar to its natural environment. The culture being capricious, it is necessary to choose the right place, the soil substrate, to provide it with the optimal temperature, humidity, and to organize regular fertilization.
Location
The Miltonia orchid feels great in places protected from direct sunlight, drafts and temperature fluctuations.
Lighting
The growth rate of the Miltonia orchid depends on the amount and intensity of light it receives. The culture prefers light, but when exposed to direct sunlight, its flowers turn pale and spots form on the leaves. Therefore, on the southern windowsills install noon shading. A good solution would be to place the flower on windows that face west or east. With sufficient light, the leaf plate will have a pinkish tint.
Temperature
Miltonia belongs to thermophilic cultures. Therefore, in spring and summer it is necessary to grow a culture in rooms with a temperature not higher than 25 degrees, and in winter should not be lower than 15 degrees.
air humidity
Miltonia orchid will delight you with beautiful flowering only at high humidity levels - about 60-80 percent. At low rates, foliage begins to curl and curl. To increase humidity indicators in room conditions, you need:
- place a container with water near the orchid or place wet expanded clay in the palette;
- spray the area around the plant 2-3 times a day, while trying to prevent water from getting on the plant, this can cause spots to appear.
High humidity levels require good ventilation and a supply of fresh air, so it is important not to forget about systematic ventilation.
Priming
It is recommended to buy a soil substrate for planting Miltonia orchids in stores. The optimal composition of the soil should contain a mixture of conifer bark with peat and small pieces of charcoal.
top dresser
So that the orchid does not need nutrition, it should be fed systematically at the time of accelerated growth and in the flowering stage. Apply fertilizers once every 2-3 weeks from April to September. It is recommended to use a fertilizer complex intended for orchids.
In winter, at rest, the Miltonia orchid does not need fertilizing.
Cultural care
The health of the Miltonia orchid, its growth, development depends on the efforts of the florist on important agricultural practices. All planting and care activities will help plants bloom faster and delight owners with luxurious flowers for a long time.
watering
At the time of intensive growth of the Miltonia orchid, which occurs in spring and summer, water the flower constantly and abundantly. The procedure is carried out 1 time in 4-5 days.It is important not to allow the soil mixture to dry out, as well as to drain the liquid in the pan, otherwise it can cause the death of the plant. When watering the Miltonia orchid, it is necessary to carefully pour water in a thin stream along the inner wall of the container.In winter, water it moderately, without overdrying or overwetting the plant. Frequency - once every 3-4 weeks.
Seasonal Care Features
Caring for the Miltonia orchid is not characterized by complexity, the main thing is to know the life cycle of this tropical plant and its needs at different times of the year.
Spring
The period of the beginning of intensive growth, therefore, the plant requires frequent watering, top dressing. During this period, increase the temperature of the night contents by several degrees. At this point, it is recommended to complete the selection process.
Summer
In summer, it is important to provide the plant with high humidity and light shade.
Autumn
Remove fallen buds from the pot to prevent the development of rot. Cut the peduncles as close to the ground as possible. Don't wait until everything is dry. For these purposes, use pruners or a sharp knife.
Winter
At rest, place the plant in a cooler room with a temperature of 16-18 degrees, reduce watering and suspend fertilizing.
How to plant and transplant correctly
It is important to follow a few recommendations for planting and transplanting in order to preserve the decorative effect and original flowering of the Miltonia orchid as much as possible.
The choice of substrate and capacity
The plant does not need bulky pots, because it has a superficial root system, the roots are fragile.It is better if the containers are made of plastic, as they retain moisture well. A container, characterized by transparency, will allow you to monitor the condition of the roots and identify in time the beginning of the development of rot.
For the substrate, a special soil is suitable, which contains small pieces of bark, chopped dry sphagnum moss, peat chips and charcoal. You can buy it at any flower shop.
Time recommendations
A favorable period for planting work is spring.
Landing scheme
When planting, it is important to carry out the following procedure:
- Free the plant from dried and damaged roots, sprinkle the sections with activated carbon. Let the root system dry out.
- Place the drainage in the container, then place the plant and cover it carefully with the soil mixture, covering only the roots.
- It is not necessary to water during the first 2 days.
Do not immediately transplant the Miltonia orchid that you just bought in the store. You should give it 7-10 days to adjust.
the reproduction
You can dilute a crop using a vegetative method. For this, disconnect the shoot from the adult shoot, it must have more than 3 pseudobulbs. Then put it in an individual pot.
Solving Common Growing Problems
When growing Miltonia orchids, some difficulties may arise.
Care errors
Frequent errors in the care of flower growers lead to the following problems.
falling buds
Miltonia orchid buds may fall off if the room is with insufficient humidity and high temperatures.
Short flowering period
A short flowering process is observed with a deficiency of fertilizers or a short dormant period.Moreover, the plant chose the wrong place to grow.
Yellowing and drooping foliage
Excess sunlight, standing water, a large amount of fertilizer, strong soil compaction can cause yellowing and foliage.
Leaf blackening
Foliage may darken if the plant does not receive enough sunlight.
Small black spots on the leaves
Heavy clay soil or a lack of drainage holes can lead to small black spots on Miltonia orchid leaves.
Wave light spots on the leaves
A harvest under the sun can burn in the form of vague light spots on the leaf blade.
Leaf tips dry up
When you water with hard water, the tips of the leaves dry out.
Diseases
Miltonia Orchid can suffer from fungal infections. These problems are the result of unfavorable environmental conditions or poor maintenance, therefore, when diseases are detected, measures must be taken quickly through competent treatment.
Root rot
The disease can be diagnosed by black-brown spots on foliage and pseudobulbs, as well as mold on aerial roots and a putrid odor. Treatment consists of pruning the infectious parts of the plant, transplanting it into another pot with disinfected soil and treating with a solution of any fungicide.
Anthracnose
The presence of small brown or black spots on the foliage and pseudobulbs indicates anthracnose. In the future, they are covered with pink or yellow bloom. Remove infected tissue, sprinkle the sections with an antifungal agent and spray the flower with fungicides.
pests
When growing the Miltonia orchid, the gardener should be aware that pests can also attack the crop.
Spider
The most insidious pest of the Miltonia orchid is a tick. A sign of infection is the presence of a cobweb-like plaque. The insect, sucking the juice from the foliage, weakens the plant and begins to dry out.
Treatment with soapy water will help rid the culture of the tick, after which it is recommended to spray it with acaricide at 2-week intervals.
Thrips
Signs of thrips infection are a large number of necrotic spots on foliage and shoots, blackish spots on flower petals. The plant stops growing. In the fight against this harmful insect, it is better to use the insectoacaricide "Fitoverm", "Aktellik".
Whitefly
The butterfly and its larvae suck the juice from the Miltonia orchid, which then begins to hurt, wither, the affected foliage turns yellow and falls off. You can destroy whiteflies with a lye solution by treating the foliage. The next step is to spray an insecticide according to the instructions. Repeat the procedure after 7-8 days.
Shield
The scabbard is signaled by the appearance of round gray-brown tubercles on the leaves and pseudobulbs, which increase in size, as a result, the affected areas turn yellow or turn red. In the fight against the scabbard, treat the foliage with a soap-alcohol solution, after an hour arrange a warm shower for the plant, then spray it with an insecticide. Repeat the event 2-3 times.
Resuscitation of a rootless plant
If the roots of the Miltonia orchid have died as a result of improper care, you can revive the culture. This process can last from 1 month to 1 year. To do this, daily soak the flower in water at a temperature of 21 degrees for 4 hours.It is recommended to add a growth stimulant every 2 weeks. When the roots begin to grow, do not add any medicine that accelerates the growth and development of the flower, but extend the duration of the session by 2 hours. Since the roots are 5 cm long, plant the Miltonia orchid in a nutrient substrate.
Additional tips and tricks
When growing Miltonia orchids, you should consider the recommendations of experienced florists:
- Buy a flower from trusted stores.
- When choosing a container, give preference to a plastic pot with air holes in the bottom.
- Buy a substrate only intended for orchids.
- To create ideal conditions for the flower, which include watering, feeding and for a comfortable existence, optimal humidity, temperature and sufficient lighting are necessary.
If you follow all the requirements, the Miltonia orchid will bring a lot of aesthetic pleasure, and the process of growing a tropical flower will bring many interesting observations and pleasant moments.