Miltoniopsis Rouge Hanover

[Kerry]

I have actually made a few purchases recently, but I have not been spending that much time on the forum. Mainly because I have been selling books on an auctions site, and quite frankly that takes blooming ages, especially when people from Australia and Germany decide that they are going to buy at least 6 books in a series and then want to do deals with you on the postage. Not that I am complaining, as I have been really pleased to sell as many as I have... but listing them all gets a little boring, wrapping them up in bubble wrap and brown paper is getting very fiddly (my fingers are tired!), and I'm not going to tell you what I think of going to queue at Fulham post office every day!

Anyway, I hadn't even thought about showing off some new purchases. However, sitting here on the sofa I am actually being physically assaulted by the scent of this baby. I have been struggling to work out what she smells like, and I think that it is a rose smell - like the hybrid tea roses that have a lovely floral smell and turn your head when you walk past them!

So here she is, shame we don't have smell-o-vision!

She's quite a large plant with 3 spikes each with 3 flowers, and one mini spike with a solitary bud.


The colour above is a pretty good match, it just looks more "alive" in real life, that little bit glowier (I know, that's not a word!)


The white mark in the centre of the bloom seems to be a flaw on this bloom only, but I thought it was quite fun - sort of like a beauty mark!



I had told myself that I wouldn't buy another pansy orchid, until my NoID proved that it could last in my flat - especially as people on the forum have emphasises how difficult they can be to grow. My other NoID milt has been moved into the bathroom, as it's getting a bit hot in the kitchen in the afternoon, and the humidity has crashed recently. When the flowers end this will go in the bathroom too, I am just hoping that they will like it enough to flower again - the NoID certainly likes my house enough to send up two new growths, but flowering is another matter I guess.

Cross fingers eh?

[Brutal_Dreamer]

That is a cute one, Kerry. Our one milt is in bud right now. It is so hard to keep it cool enough though. Your plant and blooms look so healthy! I especially love the beauty mark on the close up...hehehehe. Bluemoon will probably like it too!

Cheers,
BD

[Diane]

Lovely. Are you an author too?

[Kerry]

No, just a reader with a humunougs appetite for books. And not enough space to keep them all. lol We are having a clear out and trying to reclaim our dining room by letting my books go. It has taken me a couple of years to get to the point where I can do it!

[clintdawley]

Nice one!

I bet these guys love the sweet climate of England. I don't have many issues with them, but then again I killed about 5 before I got it right. I think the most important issue in growing these plants is humidity. Too little and the new growths accordian pleat so much that the leaves are almost cut off of the plant. Temps should be easy for you to regulate. These plants really need no more light than an average phal.

Good luck and nice to hear from you!

Clint

[Piper]

I love the color, Kerry! And I know exactly the rose scent you described - that's how I've always described it too.

McJulie

[desertgal]

Beautiful Kerry! I received one just like it for Mother's Day. It has 4 spikes, one spike is in full bloom, the second has one just opening and two spikes that will bloom later. Thanks for sharing yours.

Katie

[Elena]

Very nice Kerry, I think they smell of roses too!

[Kerry]

I just have a little question for anyone out there who could help - this plant is actually potted in sphagnum moss (not scared at all.. )

Having never had any other plants in moss - anyone got any suggestions on how often I should water it, and should I let it go completely dry between waterings? I wasn't sure I should do that with a miltoniopsis.



Thanks everyone

[clintdawley]

Kerry,

I have lots of plants in spag (as they do well with it in my warm climate and I tend to be an under-waterer).

Your milt. in spag should not go completely dry between waterings (accordian pleating will result). You can usually tell by the weight of the pot. When it weighs about 1/3-1/2 of what it weighed after a watering, it's time to water again. If these plants have good lighting, they enjoy having water available at their roots. In the winter, let the plant get only slightly drier.

If you are uncomfortable growing in spag, wait until the new leads on your milt are about half mature (usually early Fall..could be sooner) and they will push out new roots--a perfect time to repot! (Fine bark with a little perlite also works well.)