paph advice, please

[VickiC]

Hi
I would like to add Paphs to my collection of other types but I'm concerned that my growing conditions are not suited for them, so this may not work out for me. I've searched the internet, but I have found that some sites are contradictory, or vary somewhat, to others...so I would appreciate advice from you experienced growers. I rec'd my first Paph last week (urbanianum) and it now sits in front of an east window but is not getting much light- approx. 300-900 footcandles (at the very most-depending on outside conditions, of course). This slightly diminished light may be due to the way our house is built....the window is just a slight tad shaded ??). About 30-40% humidity there and very little air flow. I thought about maybe adding some supplementals, but I don't really have a good option to add a small fan and/or humidifier to that area). Also, I have no shear curtains on any window. I could move my Paph to my greenhouse where I would have control of the light it receives (small pieces of shadecloth, etc.) and I'm guessing that my humidity level is ok for it ?? I'm also guessing that the air flow is ok. ?? But what about the temp.? My gh conditions are:

General high for the day-appprox. 95 degrees in the summer (Of course, I have more control in the winter because of adjustable therm. heaters).

GH humidity is approx. 60-80% in the summer....quite a bit lower in the winter. (Being new to the orchid hobby, I failed to run my evap. cooler, which I'm sure would increase the humidity a bit....I will this winter).

Of course, I can control watering, but I would appreciate help as to damp, dry or whatever is needed.

Airflow seems to be fine...2 large fans-1 under each bench, as well as a very small clip on fan that would increase airflow even more to the Paph itself.

The fert. I use is MSU Fertilizer for Well Water-weekly- through carbon block filters (PH approx. 6.5)

Please let me know if I have missed something....

So, what do you think?

I have included a pic. of the Paph (it's small). I repotted it when I rec'd it (a general practice for me). I had to overpot it into a 4" clay pot because at the time I didn't think I had a smaller one, but I have since found a 3" plastic pot and repotted it again, in hopes it would be better suited.

I would also appreciate any tips you many have to offer.
Thanks,
Vicki

[VickiC]

OOPS...FORGOT PICTURE..

Originally Posted by VickiC

Hi
I would like to add Paphs to my collection of other types but I'm concerned that my growing conditions are not suited for them, so this may not work out for me. I've searched the internet, but I have found that some sites are contradictory, or vary somewhat, to others...so I would appreciate advice from you experienced growers. I rec'd my first Paph last week (urbanianum) and it now sits in front of an east window but is not getting much light- approx. 300-900 footcandles (at the very most-depending on outside conditions, of course). This slightly diminished light may be due to the way our house is built....the window is just a slight tad shaded ??). About 30-40% humidity there and very little air flow. I thought about maybe adding some supplementals, but I don't really have a good option to add a small fan and/or humidifier to that area). Also, I have no shear curtains on any window. I could move my Paph to my greenhouse where I would have control of the light it receives (small pieces of shadecloth, etc.) and I'm guessing that my humidity level is ok for it ?? I'm also guessing that the air flow is ok. ?? But what about the temp.? My gh conditions are:

General high for the day-appprox. 95 degrees in the summer (Of course, I have more control in the winter because of adjustable therm. heaters).

GH humidity is approx. 60-80% in the summer....quite a bit lower in the winter. (Being new to the orchid hobby, I failed to run my evap. cooler, which I'm sure would increase the humidity a bit....I will this winter).

Of course, I can control watering, but I would appreciate help as to damp, dry or whatever is needed.

Airflow seems to be fine...2 large fans-1 under each bench, as well as a very small clip on fan that would increase airflow even more to the Paph itself.

The fert. I use is MSU Fertilizer for Well Water-weekly- through carbon block filters (PH approx. 6.5)

Please let me know if I have missed something....

So, what do you think?

I have included a pic. of the Paph (it's small). I repotted it when I rec'd it (a general practice for me). I had to overpot it into a 4" clay pot because at the time I didn't think I had a smaller one, but I have since found a 3" plastic pot and repotted it again, in hopes it would be better suited.

I would also appreciate any tips you many have to offer.
Thanks,
Vicki

[WhiteRabbit]

I am not a Paph expert, only have a few, and those mostly for a year, to a year and a half or so - and I don't know this species. Paphs do like to remain moist. Mine are grown inside - sometimes in summer can get hot, but also is cool at night, and during winter. I'm not sure they all appreciate the "cool" part tho lol. Summer humidity here is moderate (at night when it's cool) to low (daytime, especially the hotter it is, the drier it is). Winter humidity is generally more moderate (daytime) to high (nights, when its cooler, there is forced air heat, tho I keep it low, so inside humidity is probably somewhat lower). I guess my point is, I don't know that you need to worry a ton about humidity - keep the roots moist and happy and I think it should be ok.
So far I have got one Paph to re-bloom - it grows in a west facing, mostly shady, window - it does get a short period of direct light, and some dappled light.

I am sure others with more experience with Paphs will chime in ...
gl

[VickiC]

Thanks for the info.

So, what do you think about the low light in front of an east window inside the house (300-900 max)? Enough light or not? If it isn't, I could put if in the greenhouse to increase the light, but the temp. is approx. 95 degrees there now. Too hot or not?

Vicki

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

I am not a Paph expert, only have a few, and those mostly for a year, to a year and a half or so - and I don't know this species. Paphs do like to remain moist. Mine are grown inside - sometimes in summer can get hot, but also is cool at night, and during winter. I'm not sure they all appreciate the "cool" part tho lol. Summer humidity here is moderate (at night when it's cool) to low (daytime, especially the hotter it is, the drier it is). Winter humidity is generally more moderate (daytime) to high (nights, when its cooler, there is forced air heat, tho I keep it low, so inside humidity is probably somewhat lower). I guess my point is, I don't know that you need to worry a ton about humidity - keep the roots moist and happy and I think it should be ok.
So far I have got one Paph to re-bloom - it grows in a west facing, mostly shady, window - it does get a short period of direct light, and some dappled light.

I am sure others with more experience with Paphs will chime in ...
gl

[WhiteRabbit]

hmmm - well I looked it up on IOSPE
IOSPE PHOTOS
and they have it as a warm to hot grower, and grows in deep shade ...

so - I would think it would be ok in the window it is in light-wise ...
could probably also take the greenhouse temp - but might be too much of a sudden change in temps right now

If this were mine I'd leave it in the window - at least for the time being - and hopefully someone with more knowledge of the species will chime in ...

[VickiC]

Thanks for looking it up for me!

Thanks also for the advice....in the window is where it's gonna stay (as you said, at least for the time being). I might just end up leaving it there....Guess I'm just gonna have to put my thinking cap on.

Vicki

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

hmmm - well I looked it up on IOSPE
IOSPE PHOTOS
and they have it as a warm to hot grower, and grows in deep shade ...

so - I would think it would be ok in the window it is in light-wise ...
could probably also take the greenhouse temp - but might be too much of a sudden change in temps right now

If this were mine I'd leave it in the window - at least for the time being - and hopefully someone with more knowledge of the species will chime in ...

[RJSquirrel]

me thinks its too hot for a paph if its leaves start to feel warm to your touch(?)...in fact any plant me thinks thats in the window, is too hot if its leaves are getting warm just sitting in the window..will sunburn..Im not paph expert either but my little trail of paphs go thru phases, east windows from 6 am till about 10 30am, then its too hot..from there to the south window for some bright indirect light all day until 6 pm then they come into the cool room for the 15-20 degree night time drop from the 85 they get most the day in the windows of course I have nothing better to do with myself so this is what I do every single day and I think I got some happy paphys and your paphy looks happy tooo...I can't do much about the humidity in my home other than the hot room which is the bathroom too...steaming hot water over lava rocks in a giant clay saucer 3 ft across...sound s like a menu item

and no I have not been drinking, maybe I should be?

[Jorch]

It's better to grow this species in the greenhouse. It needs higher humidity (65%+) to grow well.

[VickiC]

Ok, but do you think it be ok in the high greenhouse temps? I just checked and the temp is 96.4 and 70% humidity? I can supply a very small clip on fan (approx. 3-4") blowing near the area where it would sit, as well as the 2 large fans under each bench?

Originally Posted by Jorch

It's better to grow this species in the greenhouse. It needs higher humidity (65%+) to grow well.

[VickiC]

lol, me thinks you're funny! Just what I needed after a bad nights sleep and a dragging-around morn. I like your sense of humor. Sure nuff cheered me up....I even started laughing in the shower thinking about what you said-"sounds like a menu item". lol

I tested this morn. to be sure that the leaves didn't feel too warm to the touch, like you said, either in my gh or inside...and they felt ok. It stuck me as a little funny thinking about your Paphs trailing from one window to another. Thanks for the info, though...you give me good food for thought.

By the way, you sure you've not been drinking? If not, you may have a point...maybe you should be? hmmm. lol

[QUOTE=RJSquirrel;338870]me thinks its too hot for a paph if its leaves start to feel warm to your touch(?)...in fact any plant me thinks thats in the window, is too hot if its leaves are getting warm just sitting in the window..will sunburn..Im not paph expert either but my little trail of paphs go thru phases, east windows from 6 am till about 10 30am, then its too hot..from there to the south window for some bright indirect light all day until 6 pm then they come into the cool room for the 15-20 degree night time drop from the 85 they get most the day in the windows of course I have nothing better to do with myself so this is what I do every single day and I think I got some happy paphys and your paphy looks happy tooo...I can't do much about the humidity in my home other than the hot room which is the bathroom too...steaming hot water over lava rocks in a giant clay saucer 3 ft across...sound s like a menu item

and no I have not been drinking, maybe I should be