Is My New Paph Venestum OK?

[Susie11]

Another three? but you might pass out from the worry of having so many to care for again. I would hate for you to end up in accident and emergency from a stress related illness

[The Mutant]

Originally Posted by Susie11

Another three? but you might pass out from the worry of having so many to care for again. I would hate for you to end up in accident and emergency from a stress related illnesses

Oops, I lied apparently. Re-counted my Paphs just now, and I don't have 13, I have 15 AND three more incoming.

But since I only have one blooming at the moment, I don't have any spikes to worry about. I fuzz over them as the mother hen I am, but I'm getting more and more relaxed around them. So, no risk of me having any accidents due to Paph-stress in other words.

And I want more Paphs...

[Rowangreen]

LOL. 13 is a perfectly good number, unless your a member of the Spanish Inquisition! But if you want to use it as an excuse, who am I to stop you...

I have hard water, so if anything I have to worry about my paph getting too much calcium!

Not had time to start re-potting yet, but I'm definitely losing two leaves, making 3 out of 7! A bit sad, but it looks like it's going to be clean under them. I think I'm going to send the seller an email just to say I've got slight concerns, think everythings actually OK, but can't be sure until I've had time to repot...

[Rowangreen]

LOL, cross post...

Do you have any Maudaes? I nearly got a vinicolour, and I think one of those and maybe a green colour one might be high on my list... They had some green ones at the Orchid society meeting last week which were nice.

[Susie11]

I have a maudiae. It is the alba version -all of my seven paphs are albas. I am only having albas for paphs!! - It has not flowered for me yet but it does have a flower sheaf which has been on the threshold of emerging for about three months now. Patience patience...

[The Mutant]

I have a maudiae too, a Paph Maudiae Vinicolor 'Schwarze Madonna'. It's a tiny little thing but it grows like MAD and has started putting out a new leaf! I'm so happy! I really look forward to this guy's first bloom since they're so dark vine red they're almost black.

[Susie11]

I just love the green versions of paphs. I will only ever get green I think. There are of course some colourful ones that I like like Dolls kobold and Lowii but for now green will do just fine. I have just ordered a Vanda I know, mad right? It is a blue one and if I manage to get it to bloom I shall carry on with only blue types of vanda and it's hybrids.

[kavanaru]

You should not worry top much about your Paph... It looks pretty fine!

However, I would suggest to repot and add new substrate, as the one it is in looks like starting to decay... This would also let you control better what you are doing! Especially, for slippers it is a good practice to always repot them to new substrate after purchase!

Now, a clarification regarding adding dolomite or shells... This is not to add calcium or magnesium as fertilizer! Ok, yes, of course, once here the plants will use I as we'll... However, the main reason adding these is to increase the pH of the substrate around the roots! This is very important for several species of slippers, which would perform badly if the substrate is too acid!
Nevertheless, you should learn firs which species need it, as it could have the opposite effect as well... Paph. venustum is not a calcicolous species, therefore adding oyster shells or dolomite or any other calcareous rock is not necessary, and would actually negative!
Here is a page with good information about slippers: slipperorchids.info

[Rowangreen]

Thought I'd add a picture of my Paph's roots. It's lost 3 out of 7 leaves, but looks very clean where they've come away. Some of the older roots look very dark, but they feel firm. You can't see in the pic, but on the other side where one of the leaves has been removed there's the slightest little nobble where something's growing, I'm guessing another root. The roots aren't hairy: there's bits of foam stuck to them! I didn't risk pulling it off!

[dounoharm]

looks fine to me, just pot it up in a fine bark mix and let it grow! water it just before it dries out....gl