Paphiopedilum's proper medium

[Sinister]

I've heard that they are terrestrial I've heard they are epiphytic. I ordered one and it came in a fine mix of bark but the pot was too small. So I repotted in a generic bark solution. But recently it has dawned on me that the bark solution doesn't retain enough moisture. I have blonde sphagnum at my disposal but I'm reticent about using it until I hear it's okay.

If it helps, this is a mottled-leaf hybrid.

-Sin

[j.schroeder]

In talking with people about medium, you most likely get a different answer every time on what works best for which plant. Everyone who grows orchids seems to have their own "special" mix they use.

The short answer is to try not to change the medium too much from what it was in before, assuming that the plant was healthy. The mottled leaf paphs like a little more light than the green leaf type. Because they like more light, they will have tendancy to dry out faster if grown under their ideal conditions.

I would try a 4 part mix of:
fine bark or coco husk
charcoal
sphagnum or peat chunks
perilite

this is a mix I use for paphs and its equal parts of each. You could go a little lighter on the charcoal and a little more of the sphagnum if you want.

To answer the terrestrial/epiphytic question, they are considered terrestrial by most because if they do grow epiphytically, they stay very close to the ground.

Good luck,
Justin

[Sinister]

Excellent! I can swing that.
Anyway, if you can't tell I've never owned a paph.


Thanks for the input.

-Sin

P.S. I fixed the problem with the img url.

[danska]

Paphs are mostly terrestrial however a few such as paph hirsutissimum are epi/lithophytic. Just to add in I have had very good luck with orchid pumice, and it is very easy to tell when to water with this medium. Pumice dosen't break down and is also good for hydro/semi-hydro so I think it is a superb medium for orchids.

[Ray]

If I'm not mistaken, paphs aren't truly terrestrial, as their roots tend to meander the leaf litter on the forest floor, rather than penetrating the soil. I also theorize that the hairs on the roots help maintain an air space around them, which is key to healthy roots.

As to "which medium is best", as was stated, that's going to depend on your cultural conditions and your watering tendencies, but for the most part, you cannot go wrong with veramic media in semi-hydroponics. Yeah, I may have a vested interest in promoting that, but my primary interest is trying to help others grow their plants, and even a few "big name" slipper growers are seeing favorable results, so it doesn't hurt to look into the concept.

[j.schroeder]

Good point Ray. It is true that Paph roots don't tend to grow in what we would consider soil, but they do tend to grow on or very close to the ground. Most of what I have read and have heard from people that have seen them in the wild is that only occasionally do they grow in trees, usually in very deep shade, and very close to the ground, and tend to prefer decaying wood over live wood. I did fail to mention that there are some that grow almost strictly as lithophytes, sorry for any confussion.

Its hard to make general comments on most orchid genera. Even within a specific genus, there is alot of variation between species. What might be true for most, rarely is true for all.

On a side note, I wanted to say hello and welcome to you Ray. I think that your photos are great. I have some saved on my screensaver at work. You really inspired me to try to take better photos of my orchids. Hopefully we will see some of your great plants in the classifieds soon.

I look forward to talking more with you,
Justin Schroeder