are paphs generally slow growers??

[quiltergal]

I agree with Ross re: lighting. They can take a lot more than people think. Mine are in a south window also and under T5s. All of mine have multiple new growths (fans), or are starting new ones. All bloomed for me winter through spring. They are getting slightly less light than my blooming Catts!

I also agree with Gloria regarding the repotting. I repotted 4 of mine in the spring and they perked up noticably. But as Pat warned be very very carefull with their roots. They are very easy to break. Like Ross i have mine in clear pots. I like being able to see the growing root tips.

[VickiC]

Hi Terri,
All of you are so encouraging. I apprecaite everyone's input. My lil paph and I are VERY grateful!
Thanks again Terri,
Vicki




=quiltergal;138548]I agree with Ross re: lighting. They can take a lot more than people think. Mine are in a south window also and under T5s. All of mine have multiple new growths (fans), or are starting new ones. All bloomed for me winter through spring. They are getting slightly less light than my blooming Catts!

I also agree with Gloria regarding the repotting. I repotted 4 of mine in the spring and they perked up noticably. But as Pat warned be very very carefull with their roots. They are very easy to break. Like Ross i have mine in clear pots. I like being able to see the growing root tips.

[/QUOTE]

[Soonix]

I might take advantage of this thread rather than start a new thread with the same question. Is Paph Pinocchio a slow grower ? Its had 1 new leaf in 6 months or so the other paphs are doing pretty good.

Thanks

[cirillonb]

I hope it is OK to comment on Paph'Pinocchio'. I purchased one in bloom in Jan and it has bloomed successively ever since. I count 6 spots. Now a very vigorous fan is growing alongside the one blooming and a smaller one further out. It spends most of its time in the living portion of the house...no sense putting a flower on a window sill looking out. Otherwise it is about 14 inches back from an East facing window. It is still in the grower's medium (looks like large bark chips).
I have a problem with a Phaph. Ho chi Mihn. It has done nothing since purchased. At least has not obviously died but I wonder some times. I can see roots growing but nothing on top.
Nick

[VickiC]

Wow...I am really looking forward to some faster-growing from my paph, now that I know what will help the situation. Maybe it will be happier and show me some "signs" that it is.

Thanks so much to you, Pat and everyone for helping me get on the right track with it.
Vicki

Originally Posted by Ross

I'm tending to agree with Pat. From my experience with my collection, "fast" can be a relative thing, but compared to a Cat or intergeneric or something like that, they are weeds. All of mine have at least one new fan developing and a few have 2. As they get larger I get more fans. I have new fans simultanious with blossoms from the last fan to mature. I tend not to repot unless I see evidence of some problem in the mix. I use clear pots, so this is pretty easy. I fertilze with every watering. Not all Paphs get same watering regime. I have several minis that get water more often cause the pots dries out. I have some larger ones that get water less often because the pot dries more slowly. But direct observation does it for me. Mine are in a south window with pretty high light. Both green strap-leaf and mottled green sit side by side with no adverse effects.

[VickiC]

I'm glad for you that your Paph'Pinocchio is doing so well. I hope to get to the point of having an orchid to bloom one of these days.

As for your Phaph. Ho chi Mihn, I'm sorry you're having a problem with it, but I know someone who is much more orchid-knowledgable will help you. I certainly can't!! Really wish I could, though!!
Vicki

Originally Posted by cirillonb

I hope it is OK to comment on Paph'Pinocchio'. I purchased one in bloom in Jan and it has bloomed successively ever since. I count 6 spots. Now a very vigorous fan is growing alongside the one blooming and a smaller one further out. It spends most of its time in the living portion of the house...no sense putting a flower on a window sill looking out. Otherwise it is about 14 inches back from an East facing window. It is still in the grower's medium (looks like large bark chips).
I have a problem with a Phaph. Ho chi Mihn. It has done nothing since purchased. At least has not obviously died but I wonder some times. I can see roots growing but nothing on top.
Nick

[Soonix]

Thanks for the info, everyone. I do have all the paphs in lower light i will gently expose them to more sunlight.

[Tommyr]

My Supersuk "Eureka" AM/AOS x Raisin pie "Hsinying" x Sib is a really slow grower.

[VickiC]

Thanks for the info, Tommy. I'm still waiting on my paph to grow, so it must be a slow grower, too.....or else, I'm just veeerrryyy impatient! (often it is the latter lol )
Vicki

Originally Posted by Tommyr

My Supersuk "Eureka" AM/AOS x Raisin pie "Hsinying" x Sib is a really slow grower.

[unhappykat]

Sometimes paph seem to choose when they feel like growing, I have had plants sit for months without a single leaf, root, or inflorescence and then they suddenly burst into growth and flowering, notice I didnt mention roots; My plants simply refuse to put out mre roots than are absolutely necessary, I have five or six plants that sit ontop of a pot of spag moss without roots of any kind and grow like there is no tomorrow, i find this habit very irritating when it comes time to water, I cant spray or they go flying so i need to individually water each. Anyway, i find paphs with root systems like regular repotting about every six months, with the exception of Sanderianum kolopakingii rothschildianum and their hybrids possibly including Philippinenese and Parishii and praestans, these exceptions are due to the fact that these species and many of their hybrids produce an exceptionally large root system and to repot means to irritate the plant, that is a bad idea as many of these can be very slow growing when stressed, Im taliking years for a new leaf or fan. As for Maudiae hybrids they prefer to be potted in a mix of seedling bark with charcoal and perilite if you like and a small bit of either crushed spag moss or peat moss for moisture retention. Give paphs light that Cattleyas find suitable, usually when Phals burn and vandas start getting dark green, mine grow outside for summer and get two or so hours of sun in the afternoon with diffused light for the other parts of the day and they do fine, except for those pesky rootless ones they grow with the oncidiums so they dont dehydrate, lazy brats. If your plant is still not doing much in a few weeks try giving it more light and allowing it to dry out a little more between waterings, I fing some maudiaes and species still carry the seasonal trait of their monsoon stricken ancestry, periods of less water or even no water followed by periods of plentiful water, if you allow it to experience a sort of water rest for a month or two then resume regular water you might get some fast growth followed by another flowering then unfortunately another 'dormancy', not necessarily a bad trait but not a desirable one. I know its long but im bored Sorry!