Miltassia question

[myorchid]

I have a Miltassia Charles M Fitch (just got) and I am not sure what type of light to give it?

I put it about half way between the east and west window and it starting getting some yellow on the leaves.

I moved it to the east facing kitchen windowsill, I had a Brassia once and it seemed to like it in the kitchen window.

Will that be OK? What about water? I am a bit confused about it and want it to do well.

Any advise would be great! Thanks guys....

[beanluc]

Hi, I have a Miltassia Royal Robe.

It has always been in a southeast-facing window.

In the winter, this provides plenty of light. It has 4 spikes on it right now.

In the summer, the leaves can get hot so I filter light through a Venetian blind, so it gets 90%-100% of the direct sunlight in the early morning and about 30%-40% of the direct sunlight by noon. After noon, the sun is around the corner so if I'm home I pull the blind up and let full sky light in.

Anyway, it grows really fast, blooms in summer and winter, and seems to be able to handle all that light.

Miltassia Charles Fitch has different parents than mine so it's possible that it will like something a little different, but I'm guessing not a lot different.

Growing guides on [Edited] for both these Miltassias recommend "low to medium" light. To me that just means "not outdoors". Indoors, behind glass, I wouldn't keep them in the darkest parts of the house.

Now, i don't know what you mean by "east window" and "west window". Do they face east and face west? Or are they the easternmost and westernmost windows on a single north or south facing wall? I can't tell whether the spot it was in before was very bright or very dark.
A very bright spot might have caused some yellowing, if you just got the plant and it wasn't used to such brightness.
But if it was a darker spot that you had it in, then the yellowing probably happened for some other reason.

Regarding water:
Water it generously but not frequently. When you water it, let it sit submerged in a bucket for 15-30 minutes. Then let it dry out quite a bit between waterings. In winter, mine gets watered less than once a week, although it's very humid here. In summer, it gets thoroughly watered about every 4th day, and I mist/spray the aerial roots daily.

By letting the plant drink up a lot of water from the bucket, you can allow the roots to get nice and dry between waterings. This will stave off root rot and won't parch the plant because it has such nice fat pseudobulbs. You'll see the bulbs wrinkle a little and then plump up again after watering. This is totally OK for the plant, as long as the bulbs don't shrink and shrivel like a raisin.

Good luck,

BL

[myorchid]

Thanks!

Mine is currently on the windowsill that faces east, it gets morning sun. It will also get diffuse light as I have skylights in the kitchen, where the window is.

Thanks for the watering tip, I think I may be trying to water too much. The pbulbs are nice and fat. I do give it a mist with wormtea in the morning. I let it get a good drink once a week, but will let it sit in water as you suggested.

[PhalPal]

All mine are currently in orchid heaven.

[myorchid]

Originally Posted by PhalPal

All mine are currently in orchid heaven.

I am hoping that doesn't happen!!