Phapiopedilum problems

[Rhonda Svoboda]

I got a Phap. last year and its not really growing. It hasn't rebloomed. It has two seperate growths. One growth is really "floppy", or maybe droopy. I can't really describe it. Looking at it I would say it looks overwatered, or that its limp.
The other growth is okay but I've not seen any new growth at all- in a year.
I grow it under lights but its shaded from direct light by another orchid. It sits on a heat mat to keep it warm in my Michigan home.
I water whenever it appears dry. I am not sure what I am doing

[rbarata]

I can't see anything wrong. Paphs are slow growing orchids. I'm not sure about the heat mat, considering the type of Paph you have (mottled leaves Paphs require warmer temps than the others with plain leaves).
What is the temp in your growing area without the heat mat?

P.S. The floppy leave is just an old one.

[SouthPark]

I agree with rbarata. They can certainly be relatively slow-growing. The checking of the temperature is a nice idea.

The nice thing here is that the paph doesn't appear to be taking a turn in health in the wrong direction - so that's a good thing.

Every once in a while - apply relatively weak fertiliser and weak mag-cal.

[Rhonda Svoboda]

The plant sits next to a window so in the winter the ambient temp. probably runs at 60-65, depending on the wind and cloud cover.- the plants can get quite cool. my primary goal is to keep them alive, and/or in semi-dormancy until spring when they start the growth cycle

[estación seca]

I don't see anything to worry about now.

Paphiopedilums or Paphs (note spelling) make a fan of leaves, which stops growing at some point. A flower spike may come out of the center of the fan. Then they make one or more new fans from the base. After a few years the old fans die. They are slower growing than many other orchids.

Your plant may be one of the large, strap-leafed multifloral Paphs. These don't need much heat in winter. 65-68 without a heat mat would be fine. The extra heat might be drying it out too fast. Water well, then let the medium become moist but not damp-dry. Water again. They really suffer if the medium becomes completely dry, even for a day.

Because media kept moist decompose faster, if grown in organic based media, they need repotting every 2 years maximum. If it's time to repot, don't repot now. Wait until it warms up and leaves are elongating, or it begins a new fan. One or both will happen by late Spring.

[Ray]

I grow mine in S/H culture and do not worry about winter temperature issues with the evaporative cooling. They do not take a winter break, but keep growing, year round.

I have never been successful with paphs in sphagnum; they seem to prefer more air than that provides, although yours does appear to be fluffy and open.

[Roberta]

Some of the Paphs (especially the multiflorals) are slower than slow... First they grow a new fan. Then the fan grows some roots. Until that happens, it doesn't even think about blooming. So you could be looking at 3 years. Once the plant gets large, so that there are multiple fans of different ages, it's likely to become a more reliable bloomer. Orchids in general teach patience... but Paphs can be glacial in their progress. Some are a bit swifter than others...