Experimental mix with Winston Churchill cross!

[InspirChid1712]

Hi everybody!

I am trying a new mix for my Winston Churchill cross after reading this article by Mahon:

Recent Studies Upon Paphiopedilum Cultivation - Orchid Board

The plant has always been fickle... I've only gotten it to bloom once in 5 years. His article makes alot of sense... The only time this plant bloomed was when I grew it in previously-used osmunda after repotting a Phal. I had ready that Paphs are one of the few orchids that do like USED mix/osmunda. I suspect it did so well because the osmunda was already supporting the fungus that Mahon is referring to.

I followed the recipe quite closely! (I added a crushed oyster shell from the beach, which I pulverized with a hammer after washing it) My only concern is that this mix seems a bit too soil-like, but what the heck, we'll see! Has anybody else tried this with good results??????

[orchidsarefun]

other than having similar problems with my WC grex in flowering, I haven't tried this, no. I did summer it outdoors, hanging from a tree and I haven't changed the potting mix for 2 years. I did add some oyster shell.
Its in an 8in pot and grows very well.
Lo and behold I have 2 blooms this year !
Please keep us updated on progress.

[silken]

Interesting read and I will be curious of your results. I have always read that Paphs. were very unhappy with old potting media so I've always been rather diligent about re-potting regularly! And I am not the best Paph. grower. So who knows, maybe this would help.

[The Orchid Boy]

It will be interesting to see the results. I know Rick at SlipperTalk has had very, very good success with every sort of paph and phrag in wooden baskets. I'm going to try a P. micranthum and P. armeniacum in baskets within a year or so.

[katzenhai2]

I grow all my paphis only in coconut husk chips (in a greenhouse) with great success. Not repotted since three years. The substrate is almost decomposed to humus and it stays there permanent wet. All sorts of millepedes and other creatures living in there.

P. sanderianum (YP)

[The Orchid Boy]

Nice sanderianum roots! How big is it/how far away from blooming? What's the leafspan?