David.

The rhizome on sympodial orchids can be the elongated structure you are
expecting, or as is the case in your miltonia, so short that it is
merely the connection between pseudobulbs.

Looking at the photos, it appears that you really have no appreciable
viable roots left on that thing, due to suffocation of them in the old
potting medium. Quite frankly, I think it's a goner.

If you do want to attempt to recover it, I would echo Kathy's
recommendation on the fine bark, and add that you're going to need to
keep the plant shady, warm, and VERY humid in an attempt to get it to
recover.

Miltonias (I really think it is likely a miltoniopsis), having those
very thin leaves, can become desiccated very quickly, and with no roots
to absorb moisture, cannot replenish the moisture loss. By keeping it
in maximum relative humidity, you slow that drying process, possibly
giving it time to form a new growth and have that get established with
new roots before the entire plant gives up the ghost.

Ray Barkalow - First Rays LLC - www.firstrays.com
Orchid Plants, Supplies, Equipment, Books
Artwork, Free Services & Lots of Info!

-----Original Message-----
From: David Farber ]
Posted At: Sunday, November 29, 2009 8:42 PM
Posted To: rec.gardens.orchids
Conversation: Miltonia potting.
Subject: Miltonia potting.

K Barrett wrote:
Hi K,

You've given me a lot to digest. Just a quick question or two, how
do I tell when it's sprouting new roots without taking it out of the
pot? I'm still a little confused about my earlier question. Can I
take the plant out of the pot to inspect it, and if it's in good
condition, replace it with the same bark and soil? In other words,
can I reuse the old mixture until I get a chance to buy some new mix?

Thanks for your reply.

While I am loathe to tell you what to do because I firmly believe that
no one can tell you how to grow your orchids because they can't guess
what your unique conditions may be. That said:

IMHO take the Miltonia out of the "soi/bark" you have it in and put it
in fine bark, probably in a plastic pot then slip that pot in the
pretty blue pot you have it in in order to improve the air/moisture
ratio. And that air moisture ratio is different for everyone, its
something you have to learn for yourself at the cost of several dead
plants.
New roots arise from any new growth, the new growth appears first, the
roots second (usually). In oncidiums (Oncidium Alliance which
Miltonia belongs to) I believe the new growth starts then the roots
appear sometime afterwards. The new growth appears slightly above or
to the side of the old growth so you should be able to see the new
growth and new roots unless you've potted your plant too deep in the
potting medium. Do not bury the rhizome, it should be at or slightly
above the surface of the potting medium.

Again, IMHO you don't risk much in repotting orchids at any time
because there are no fine hairs to damage like with all other plant
roots. All other plants have root hairs that you try not to ruin
because then the plant can't uptake nutrient. Orchid roots are
different. If one is careful one can repot an orchid at almost any
time. Optimal repotting time is when new roots are appearing. But
your orchid isn't like that. IMHO your orchid is stressed, in an
improper medium and should be repotted in fine bark. But what do I
know? You are in LA. I'm up here in the SF Bay Area. You may want
to continue experimenting with your medium. Fine! Good! Mahzeltov!
All I'm saying is you have to read your plants with your eyes. They
are trying to talk to you. This one did better when you followed a
vendor's advice and put it in bark.
If you have access to any bookstore or Home Depot try and find a copy
of the Ortho book 'All About Growing Orchids' (this may not be the
exact title but it will be something similar) This will be a cheap,
accurate, handy resource for basic skills.

K Barrett

Hi K,

So you're saying I need to become an Orchid Whisperer? (-;

After some clean up, this is what it looked like before putting it back
in
the pot.
http://members.dslextreme.com/users/...tonia/miltonia.
html#Roots

I went to Home Depot and bought some bark and Miracle-Gro orchid soil
mix.
I used about 80% bark and 20% soil mix. I guess time will tell. The old
mixture didn't seem that bad. Oddly enough, Home depot was selling
orchids
in clear plastic pots but when I asked where I could purchase the clear
pots, I was told they did not sell them. They only had the fancy ceramic
pots. So I put my plant back in the fancy pot.

I did find a copy of the Ortho book. I checked it out of the library
yesterday along with about a half dozen other Orchid books. I'll need to
start making flash cards with vocabulary words and I'll start with
"rhizome,
a rootlike subterranean stem, commonly horizontal in position, that
usually
produces roots below and sends up shoots progressively from the upper
surface." I didn't see any of those, did I bury them?

Thanks for your reply.
--
David Farber
L.A., CA