Questions About New Paphiopedilum in Moss
 

Hello, i just purchased a new paph - Paph. Magic Leopard '#3' x Paph. fairrieanum 'Red Glen #10'. I am very much a beginner with paphs, but I have 2 maudiae types in a fine bark mix that seem to be doing ok in my care so far. This new paph has come in a plastic pot inside a terra cotta and it is in sphagnum moss (real wet right now). Am I asking for trouble leaving it in the moss for a while while it is in bloom? I don't grow anything in moss because I can't get the watering right enough to feel comfortable. Should I remove the moss and wring it out and pack it loosely for now like I would a new mini phal, or would a paph not mind the moss, and be more disturbed by me messing with it in bloom? FYI, there is a small new growth on it.

Also, the leaves on this are much longer and thinner and floppier than the ones I have. Can this be a normal trait of this variety or does this speak of an issue with it? Also, am I correct in assuming this is a maudiae type because of the leaf mottling? I am not finding specific culture info on this yet.

Thank you for your thoughts on this. I have read a lot about paph care, but I am not sure how picky they are about being disturbed while in bloom or how quickly the roots can rot in moss.

No, I don't think so. The moss will hold moisture longer, so I would just water it less frequently than you would if it were potted in bark. I wouldn't disturb the roots unless you want the bloom to drop. I would take it out of the clay pot, leave it to sit in its plastic pot and allow this medium to dry almost all the way out before watering again though.

When the bloom drops, clip the spike, pot it up in bark (repotting supposedly makes paphs happy) and have fun!

Thanks RandomGemini, I appreciate the advice.

Do you think the long thin and flopped over shape of the leaves are a potential issue, or just common to this paph?

I have had a lot of these.
Magic Leopard is a maudiae type hybrid, and fairrie-maudiae hybrids (called faire-maud in short) are generally very vigorous and about as easy as maudiae types.

Yes, the longer and thinner leaves (although not always thin) are the common feature on this type of hybrid.

Being floppy is another thing. Feel the overall texture or firmness of the leaves. It could be just how the plants in rare occasion, but it is most often lack of enough water or light.

Paphs do fine in moss, but try to water a little bit at a time to just moisten the moss. You can easily monitor the level of moisture through the pot since it is in clear plastic pot.
For now, just keep the plant in well aeriated place to encourage fast drying, and from next time, try not to soak the moss, but pour a little bit until you moisten the moss, and shoot for that way.
Or just repot in bark you are used to. :)

I find these go crazy like weeds once it past the first flowering with the help of fairrie genes, which is a clumper.

Thanks NYCorchidman, great information. The "floppy" in the leaves is actually a "bend" in the leaves at the base of each of the second leaves of the mature growth. The 2 oldest and 2 newest leaves seem normal. Strange, maybe something pressed against them and they just grew bent? The turgidity of all leaves actually seems pretty ok to me. Hopefully its just a strange thing.

I will watch the water in the moss and repot to bark when the bloom is gone. I was very wet when I purchased it, who knows how dry it was before they drenched it. I will also make sure it gets good light and hopefully it will grow like a weed like yours :)

I see what you mean. I have seen them and they are often caused as a result of mechanic damage as vendors move plants around for sale.
Sometimes (I don't know why but even under good light) some leaves will just go bent.

So, I don't think you have anything to worry about other than that they look rather funny that way.

Right now, since it is in bloom and you do not know how much light it was grown at, I would just place it in somewhere bright (not too bright) but cool(er) since you are in Florida to enjoy the flower as long as possible.
Then, once you repot, and then give it sometime to reestablish, you can up the light a bit to keep those new leaves as turgid and upward facing as possible in the future.
Many people grow paphs too dark with commonly mentioned but very confusing and often wrong concept of "low light" or "shade".

Paphs will take a lot of light and they do better (especially when it comes to flowering) under highest light possible. I think this goes true for many other orchids or plants in general as well.

Happy Growing!

One of my fairrie-maudiae type is in low bud at the time. :)

I defer to NYCOrchidman for knowledge regarding paphs. I only have the one now, just lost the other one the other day either due to some weird mite infestation that I didn't notice going on, or some weird virus that I didn't notice going on. I got it out into sunlight to treat it and the whole plant was just gone. It was a darker mottled leaf type, so I almost didn't notice the damage to the leaves at all, then when I got it outside, it became apparent how far gone the plant was. :(

Strangely, my other paph is doing well. I think I will just go try to track down more paphs from Trader Joe's.

I know what you mean about the light NYCorchidman. I am trying to be conscientious about giving Phals and paphs the right kind of light, and I'm realizing it is more than I originally thought it should be after reading all of the 'low light' culture notes. I'm still iffy with light on my first two paphs, they are in front of an east window and when the sun hits them for a while in the morning I get nervous, but no bleached or burned leaves so I'm leaving them there close to the window for now. Time will tell if I got that right.

I saw your post about your mite or whatever issue RandomGemini, very weird! Too bad for sure.

I'm really enjoying the paphs lately, I need to get better acquainted with the culture before I get any more though. Luckily they aren't too common around here so I don't go grabbing a bunch because I can't help myself ;)

Paphs can be repotted at any time, incl when in bud or bloom. It does not affect the bud/bloom, unless you break the stem.

Paphs do well in spaghnum/bark mixtures, as long as you adjust the watering accordingly. I use this mix in 2" & 3" pots, but bark/charcoal/perlite mix in 3.1/2" & up. That allows me to water all on same schedule.

I also use spaghnum mix in all seedling compots (with seedling size bark & charcoal).

I personally would not use moss for Paphs.......way to risky. Moss is ok for some other genera but not Paphs.......