Miltonia producing fragrance 2hours/day???

[DDS2007]

hi all,

i have discovered that my Miltonia is producing a sweet fragrance only 1-2 hours a day, i'm so happy but i noticed it produces this fragrance only when direct sun-light hits , approxmiately 3-4 pm

is that normal of Miltonias?

[arleneg]

It's normal for many fragrant plants. I have a Miltonia Bert Field's 'Eileen' (see my icon above ). It was only fragrant in the morning or evening when it's cool. I have another fragrant orchid, a Bl. Yellow Bird. That was fragrant during night times.

When plants are fragrant, they are working on attracting a type of insect (e.g. bee or fly)... This is part of pollination -- insect goes on flower to get its sap; insect with some pollen from the previous flower goes to another flower to get sap; some pollen is left in the second flower; pollination happens; seeds/seed pods develop.

[DDS2007]

wonderful , orchids never stop amazing me

i'm quickly getting addicted ! , thank u for the info!

[jerrymeola]

Arleneg is correct that the fragrance of an orchid is tied to the life cycle of the insect that pollinates it.

Also heat increases the release and strength of the fragrance, so that is why you notice it more on sunny days.

In addition, you might have noticed that many orchids do not have a fragrance for several days after opening and it increases for several weeks than begins to fade.

The slow start is that the plant does not want to attract an insect before it is sexually mature to receive the pollination. Then it fades with age as we all do.

Once fertilized the flower dies and closes quickly to wrap the petals around and protect the seeds.