Paphiopedilum not blooming!

[Carl]

Help! I have a Paphiopedilum (type unknown) that I have had for two and a half years and it was in bloom when I bought it. It has matured three new leads and it putting more up, but no more blooms! I have it in with my Phals that have bloomed without any problems. I grow them all in a bright room and none have any disease or other problems. I have grown paphs in the past, but have not had one that had grown this large--it is crowding in a 6 inch pot! I hope someone can help! Thanks

Carl

[Singingirl96]

Since no one answered.... I'm having the same exact problem. This past weekend at the local orchid show, I spoke to a paph specialist, and he said that it might be the amount of water. These are swampy plants, so you have to always keep the medium moist. I purchased some paph & phrag mix and repoted my 2 yesterday. I'm moving them to a brighter window as well. So, try that.

[kavanaru]

Carl & Singinggirl, if you can post a picture of your plants, it is easier to provide advice... you can separate paphs in two (generally speaking) large groups with (generally speaking again) different needs...

[Gin]

Ramon nailed it , All Paphs. are not the same .. Gin

[Joanie]

Why two different groups of paphs and How do you treat them? I am not thinking phrags as one of these classifications.

[kavanaru]

well, in general terms you can divide them as follows:

Group 1: "Cool" grower - The green leaved, single flowered plants, e.g. Paphiopedilum insigne & Paphiopedilum spicerianum and most complex hybrids, need a bit cooler conditions.

Group 2: "Warm" grower -which could be divided in:

Sub-group A: The mottled leaved plants, e.g. Paphiopedilum bellatulum and Paphiopedilum Maudiae Type. These plants, normally require warmer conditions than those from group 1.

Sub-group B: The green leaved paphiopedilums with multiflowered inflorescences, e.g. Paphiopedilum rothschildianum, will generally require more heat than their mottled leaved plans.

Note that I said "generally speaking", as there are some exceptions, e.g. Paphiopedilum venustum is a mottled species, but as far as I know, needs cooler conditions.