Need help and advice with Paphiopedilum - Page 2 - Orchid Board

lotis146 · #1 03-10-2014, 01:41 AM

That is amazing that they came from only about 4 or 5, wow, nature is incredible.

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. It still seems to be fine. If it starts to look worse for the wear then I may repot again and use more moss or a more hydrating mix. I feel pretty good about what I've got going now. That's too bad that the fan may not start to regrow again. I think I want to measure it and watch it obsessively! Lol.

I've already followed the tip of misting the surface more often for the shallow roots.

Cheers!
Lotis

Optimist · #2 03-07-2014, 06:59 AM

Phaphs (ladyslippers) are terrestrial orchids, not epiphites. They grow in earth aka. Dirt. That would mean that your large chunk bark and fast flowing water and pot with holes may just kill it.

From what I know about the wild phaphs that grew around our house, they like more cool, shady areas.

---------- Post added at 04:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:50 AM ----------

It is also fairly common for an orchid to bloom only once per year. Most of the year, an orchid is just leaves in a pot like any other houseplant. It is common that a basal leaf goes yellow and falls off. Orchids have regular leaf turn-over.

I think you are over-mothering. You most likely did not need to do anything other than continue to water the plant. You likely did not need to un-pot it and expose or soak its roots. Some orchids are really pouty and will refuse to bloom or do anything else if you man-handle it too much.

jeremyinsf · #3 03-07-2014, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Optimist

Phaphs (ladyslippers) are terrestrial orchids, not epiphites. They grow in earth aka. Dirt.

Optimist - Might want to check into this a bit more. It's perhaps an over-generalization and not correct (imho).

NYCorchidman · #4 03-07-2014, 01:01 PM

Also, may I add that species making up maudiae type hybrids are VERY different than what Optimist is talking about, the cypripedium, which does grow in "dirt", although they do best in the dirt that does contain lots of leaf humus, hence it is nothing like regular soil, but very light, rich, moist, and airy.

In that sense, maudiae types may also thrive in the "dirt" given the right composition.

Optimist · #5 03-08-2014, 08:19 AM

Okay, sorry. There is a special bark mix for phaphs.

NYCorchidman · #6 03-14-2014, 11:11 AM

All the best!

lotis146 · #7 04-02-2014, 08:45 PM

Update!

I'm so so happy I joined OrchidBoard! Although my wallet and possibly boyfriend may not be! LOL.

Since I last posted in this thread I picked up Paph. 'Pink Fred' which had multiple buds on one spike. At present it has one bloom & another getting ready to open in a few days probably, with two MUCH smaller buds chilling.

BUT, this Paph. I posted about does appear to be doing well, even if slowly. The second growth I spoke of has long since started growing again. In fact in the last couple of days I've noticed another leaf growing up out of the center of this growth. I'm not sure exactly how these grow as this is my first encounter with Paph.s and new growth but I will post a picture soon. I'm so, so happy and grateful it is still alive.

Cheers!
Lotis

NYCorchidman · #8 04-04-2014, 01:11 PM

Congrats on the bloom and also the progress on the other paph.

In general, these plants are quite vigorous growers, but there are always some that are slower than others, and some are frustratingly slow.

This slow growing habit can improve as the plant ages and add more growths, but some will always be super slow.

Good way to tell which one will be better grower is to select the one with one or two new fans already going.
Even the single growth plant with no new growth at the time of purchase may start a new fan as soon as flower is finished, but you never know as I have had some slow ones which took almost a year to initiate a new fan and grew very very slowly. I was so impatient and tossed it. The flower was that great, so it just wasn't worth it overall. lol

I now have about two or three that are not showing any signs of new growth in the past 5 months and I'm thinking hmmm who has to go first. hahaha
I hope they heard me. lol

lotis146 · #9 04-05-2014, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

Congrats on the bloom and also the progress on the other paph.

In general, these plants are quite vigorous growers, but there are always some that are slower than others, and some are frustratingly slow.

This slow growing habit can improve as the plant ages and add more growths, but some will always be super slow.

Good way to tell which one will be better grower is to select the one with one or two new fans already going.
Even the single growth plant with no new growth at the time of purchase may start a new fan as soon as flower is finished, but you never know as I have had some slow ones which took almost a year to initiate a new fan and grew very very slowly. I was so impatient and tossed it. The flower was that great, so it just wasn't worth it overall. lol

I now have about two or three that are not showing any signs of new growth in the past 5 months and I'm thinking hmmm who has to go first. hahaha
I hope they heard me. lol

Good to know! This one I'm pretty sure did not start its new growth right after the flower died. Then not long after it did start (gosh maybe 4-6 months?) I was under-watering it and the growth stopped. Once I got advice here and repotted the growth started SLOWLY again. I'll post a pic tomorrow perhaps just for show 'n' tell. The main leaf of the new fan grew out then seemed to stop or slow...?...now there's another leaf coming up the middle, just the tip. (My 'Pink Fred' just opened a second bloom (slightly smaller than first) and has an even smaller 3rd and SUPER DUPER tiny 4th. The new growth on it, there when I purchased, has not grown at all past it just being obvious.)

Thanks for your interest & information!
Lotis

NYCorchidman · #10 04-05-2014, 03:08 PM

I was under-watering it and the growth stopped. Once I got advice here and repotted the growth started SLOWLY again. I'll post a pic tomorrow perhaps just for show 'n' tell. The main leaf of the new fan grew out then seemed to stop or slow...?...now there's another leaf coming up the middle, just the tip.

The first leaf will always be the smallest one.
The fact that you are seeing the second leaf emerging is that the first one is done growing.

You really want to make sure you do not underwater your plant especially while they are growing like yours is now.