Paphiopedilum in alternative medium

[LinhT]

Originally Posted by musicloveranthony

Do you plan to look into potting in it?

Yes but first I need to find a cheap Paph to experiment with. I can't mess with my other ones anymore. I'm going to check out the Home Depot at the Quarry and look for the sheet moss too. We should do progress photos to document how they come along.

[musicloveranthony]

Thanks for all that info and the pictures of your plant, K.O.O.G. (that's an interesting acronym). It looks like it's coming along very well!! I think i'll try using leaf matter in the next calceous Paph I get. I think it's interesting some of the pics of Paph stoneii I've seen, the plants are growing on nearly vertical cliff faces with what looks to be no vegetative matter, whatsoever. Some of the roots looks to be be over two feet long and thick as vines!

Also, Tracy, let me know if you end up finding sheet moss! I'd like to try another Paph in a limestone medium and use that sheet moss idea and do progress photos!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

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[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

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[musicloveranthony]

Flickr: hm8080's Photostream that guy's photostream has some amazing pics of stonei in situ. If you search his photostream for "stonei," you can find them. There are actually a lot of great in situ shots, from Indonesia.

Paphiopedilum stonei roots on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Slipper orchids on rock surface on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Paphiopedilum stonei on Flickr - Photo Sharing! Those all show the habits up close, he has some other nice shots of the cliff faces, themselves

I'd certainly like to hear input from others, as well. There are a lot of views to the thread, I'd like to hear others' ideas, suggestions, experiences

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

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[LinhT]

Originally Posted by musicloveranthony

Also, Tracy, let me know if you end up finding sheet moss! I'd like to try another Paph in a limestone medium and use that sheet moss idea and do progress photos!

Found it! At Home Depot in the Quarry off of Stinson Ave. I would think they'd have it at any Home Depot in the Cities, too. It was in the gardening section where the houseplants and orchids are. Look in the area where they keep the orchid mix, sphag peat moss....etc.

It was next to the small bags of river rock and marble nuggets.

Now I just need to find a cheap Paph to experiment with.

[stefpix]

I got some Mosser Lee sheet moss at Lowes but when wet really stings as bad algae or somehow fishy... it feels a lot coarser and crunchier than sphagnum moss. not sure if i like it...