low light recomendations?

Milts are hard. I have one NOID that's pretty healthy, I've killed two (one came in questionable shape), and I have one that aborted its spikes on its second blooming. They're a tough beginner orchid. They're a favorite of mine, but you might be better with something more forgiving.

Have you considered any Paphs? If you keep the crown dry and the leaves above the potting material they're not too difficult. And their blooms will last for 2-3 months.

Julie

aw, thats too bad. the milts are some of my favorite flowers.

that maudine "queen" paph in the other thread is beautiful, i want to order one thats in bud this week. that might make slipper types a little more interesting to me.

Maudiae Paphs are wonderful!

You have the albas, like Jason just posted;

the coloratums, which are combos of greens and purples:
http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchid...ead.php?t=3833

and finally, the vinis - the very dark purples that seem to swallow light:
http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchid...ead.php?t=4105.

They're readily availble, relatively inexpensive, and their culture is straight forward.

Julie

thats so cool how you got that one to double bloom!

you're starting to sell me on this whole paph thing. :P i'm going to order some flowers this week, i think, including that in bud paph, and i'll see where to go from there, i guess.

is a 2" pot bloomable size, in general? cause it sounds really tiny, to me.

Vendors can suggest something is blooming size or near-booming size and be off a year or two. There's no way to be sure for many plants. But Paphs will bloom on a mature growth, usually right after the second growth emerges. But they may have a particular season in which they want to bloom. That means, if it's a spring bloomer and the second growth appears in the fall, you can likely look for a spike on the mature growth in the spring.

The larger Paphs will put up a new growth every two years, until they get big and strong enough to do it annually. But don't look for a spike until you have a good sized growth, and a new one is on its way.

If you get a plant with a spike, be very careful handling it! Stake it for protection, and even then be very sensitive in any manipulation of the spike or bud. At least once a year I break a bud off its spike, just as it's ready to bloom. And that's it for the year, folks! Game over. It's a real bummer, and I was being careful!

But given those caveats, they're a great genus and have long-lasting flowers. Bottom soak them to avoid crown rot and make sure the potting material doesn't overlap the leaf base. That should minimize rot issues. Keep them evenly moist, without ever fully drying out.

McJulie

can do, thanks!

the "pansy" type miltonia's like an eternal spring.I think this link will help with them

http://www.angelfire.com/or3/orchids.../oncframe.html

cool, thanks

I agree on the paphs. THis little Paph. Vanda M. Pearman has put on a great show for me.
I can't take the credit for getting it to flower since I got it when it was just starting to show signs of a sheath. But I can say that I didn't mess it up enough to kill the spike.
It gave off two blooms, in low light. The lighting shown in the pic was added after it had been in full bloom for a while.
http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchid...ead.php?t=5157

i've seen pictures of that kind of paph before, its really pretty. it looks like a phal, but a paph at the same time, you know?