Miltonia grow and care – epiphyte orchid leaf plant of the genus Miltonia also known as Pansy orchid, Miltonia perennial evergreen plant used as ornamental plant for the flowers, can grow in subtropical climate or indoor as houseplant and growing in hardiness zone 11-12.
Leaves color green in in linear shape the leaf fleshy in the base create bulb shape.
Flower color can be: white, red, pink, orange, cream, purple, magenta, yellow, most of the flowers contain more than one color, color structure can be with stripes, dots, spots or shapeless, shape of five narrow petals can be pointed at the top and one in the middle of triangle round or heart shape.
Well drained soil, moist, high humidity (more than 70%) recommended temperature in night 13-19C (50-66F) and day 22-26C (71-80F), fertilize, clean water (rain water) in room temperature, change old soil, cork soil, bark or bark chip, transparent pot, pot in that will be fit (not too big), when change pot need to cut the dead root, need to cork before start to become compost and acid, recommend to use Styrofoam to give air for the root.
How to care: Every two year to switch the soil, fertilizer at least once a year
What is the best way to start growing? Plant / Seeds / Vegetative Reproduction – daughter plant need to separate without to damage the roots, the best way to do that it’s by taking all the soil a way and cut the connection between the mother plant and the daughter plant, better to do it after the new has at least 3 leaves.
Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction? Yes to insure the color and the shape of the flower
Difficulties or problems when growing: Need to change the pots and the roots grow once a year, better not to put it directly in big pot
Planting season: Spring to autumn
Pests and diseases: Aphids, spider mite
Pruning season: All year
How to prune:
Old yellow leaves, after the bloom cut the stem 2 cm after the node and rotten root
Size of the plant? 20-60 cm, 12-24 inches
Growth speed in optimal condition: Medium growing / Slow growing
Water requirement: Average amount of water
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing: Full Shade (with light)
Is it possible to grow as houseplant? Yes
Growing is also possible in a pot / planter /flowerpot / containers: Yes, much better to grow in in pot, better to choose transparent pot in order to see that condition of the roots, the pot need to be 20-40% bigger than the root ball, bigger the root ball smaller the percentage, every time that the plant arrive to full capacity of the container need to switch soil, if not arrive to the container size and pass 2 year need to switch the soil, over time the soil lose the viability, important to make enough holes in the pot for good drainage, better to use as soil bark chip or cork soil possible to styrofoam for better drainage, need to put few times a year fertilizer and use distilled water or rain water.
Blooming information
Bloom season: All year (mostly spring to autumn)
General information about the flower: Color can be: white, red, pink, orange, cream, purple, magenta, yellow, mostly contain more than one color, color structure can be with stripes, dots, spots or shapeless, shape of five narrow petals can be pointed at the top and one in the middle of triangle round or heart shape
