Miltonia
Viscount Milton's orchid
Also known as Miltonia orchid
- Height × spread
- 0.4m – 0.6m × 0.15m – 0.6m
- Position
- Part shade
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
There are around 11 species of Miltonia, plus some natural hybrids. These orchids originate in South America and are epiphytic (they grow on other plants). The flowers are often striking rather than beautiful with very long slender rear petals (technically sepals) and a smaller, showy centre. This includes a tongue that is exotically patterned. The flower is coloured in shades of brown, beige, pink, yellow and red. The flowering season varies greatly in different species.
- Flower colour
- Pink, Purple, Red, White
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Cone
- Height
- 0.4m – 0.6m
- Spread
- 0.15m – 0.6m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Indoors, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Likes part shade
- Soil type
- All types
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil
- Winter hardiness
- Varies, most are not hardy
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Indoor light
- semi shade
- Indoor temperature
- 15C minimum temperature
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Mist the plant daily
Plants which enjoy high humidity should be misted daily. Soft or rain water is preferred as it doesn't mark the foliage. Avoid spraying at the height of day or the water can act as a magnifying glass and leaves may be scorched.
Mist the plant daily when in growth, preferably using rain or soft water.
Spring-Winter · Indoors
Water regularly during growth
Water regularly while the plant is in growth. The watering should be reduced as the leaves start to die. It should be kept just moist during its rest period (generally winter) and watering resumed when new growth starts.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Keep dry during dormancy
This plant likes a period of dryness in winter. Otherwise increase watering as it comes into growth, water regularly, then decrease as the plant enters dormancy. Mist the foliage daily while in growth.
Other opinions state that plant should receive the occasional light watering while it is in its dormant or resting period.
Summer
Summer-Autumn · Indoors
Feed with orchid feed
Use a standard orchid feed regularly at every third watering during summer, applying it as directed on the packet.
For specialist feeding, you can buy a group of orchid feeds. Apply a high nitrogen feed in spring as the plant is coming into growth, a balanced feed during growth, and a high potash feed in autumn.
Summer-Autumn · Outdoors
Feed with orchid feed
Use a standard orchid feed regularly at every third watering during summer, applying it as directed on the packet.
For specialist feeding, you can buy a group of orchid feeds. Apply a high nitrogen feed in spring as the plant is coming into growth, a balanced feed during growth, and a high potash feed in autumn.
Planting & general
Indoor temperature · Planting
15C minimum temperature
This plant requires a minimum temperature of 15 Centigrade.
Indoor plant · Planting
Position in moderate light / some shade
This plant is happiest in a position with part or light shade, near a sunless window or some distance away from a sunny or bright window. It should not be exposed to full sunlight.
Compost · Planting
Orchid-epiphytic compost for repotting
Buy a standard orchid mix for orchids that are epiphytic in character i.e. they grow on other things, generally other plants.
If making one's own one recipe create a mix that is half fine bark chips, and a mix of fine gravel and perlite and charcoal for the other half. Opinions vary on 'recipes' and if your interest develops, you can research the views of specialist growers.