About my Paph. Supersuk "Eureka" AM/AOS x Paph Raisin Pie "Hsinying") x Sib - Orchid Board

caoquendo · #1 10-20-2010, 12:49 AM

I have this Paph. and when I bought it, it has a beautiful lady slipper flower. But the leaves came like this two weeks later to present. I've shoot this photos today. Can anyone give some advice because it don't seems to be healthy. I'm really lost with this orchid. I want to know if the roots are ok and if it has something wrong with the leaves.

Here's the photos. Hope somebody can give me advice... =(
Please and thanks!

silken · #2 10-20-2010, 12:56 AM

I'm no expert on Paphs, but the roots look OK. Paphs don't always have the mass of roots that some other orchids have. But so long as what you have in those photos are plump feeling they should be good. It sort of looks like the leaves are getting too much sun. What kind of light is it getting? Usually the mottled leaved ones don't want as much light as solid green ones. Treating them with the same as Phal conditions is good. Paphs don't like to completely dry out but shouldn't be left soggy either.

kalanchoe · #3 10-20-2010, 01:04 AM

Hmm... perhaps it is overpotted? Hard to tell how big the root mass is beyond what is uncovered in the photo, but too big of a pot can lead to overwatering.

caoquendo · #4 10-20-2010, 01:08 AM

Well... I think they might be getting some light in the morning, but not too much. Because they are in a shaded terrace. Only that they took some light from the East side in the morning and nothing during the rest of the day. I'll try moving them to somewhere more shaded.
And I will repot it in a smaller pot.

Thanks! Perhaps I'm happy because I thought it was near dead..!

PD... It is ok to have plate with water underneath? Because it has one. What if I repot it in a clay pot?

silken · #5 10-20-2010, 01:11 AM

I agree, it does look like it could be over-potted. Are you keeping it evenly moist? It looks a bit wilted, which could be not enough humidity and watering or a root problem. But the roots look OK from the photo.

caoquendo · #6 10-20-2010, 01:15 AM

It is ok to have plate with water underneath? Because it has one. What if I repot it in a clay pot?

silken · #7 10-20-2010, 01:25 AM

Most orchids should NEVER be left standing in water. It can sit on a tray filled with pebbles or leca balls filled with water, so long as the pot itself is not sitting in the water. This will help add humidity to the air around it. It looks like the plant is in a lot of sphagnum moss. That will sponge up any water in the saucer and you could end up with root rot. When you are potting into a smaller pot, you may want to use less moss and add some small bark chips instead. A clay pot is OK, but it will dry out faster than if it is in plastic. Paphs don't like to dry out completely.

kalanchoe · #8 10-20-2010, 01:59 AM

I agree with Silken, the bottom of your pot should not be in direct contact with a saucer of water. Orchid roots need air flow as well as water, and sphagnum that is constantly wicking up moisture the bottom of the pot will leave your orchid water logged.

RosieC · #9 10-20-2010, 07:08 AM

I agree it looks over potted, and my Paphs have done baddly when the medium stays too wet in a pot that's too big. I would get it in the tiniest pot you can fit the roots into, I did that with mine and started to get success.

Also I completely agree, you don't want it standing in water at all, the moss will stay far too wet that way.

caoquendo · #10 10-20-2010, 10:26 PM

Ok. In the pot, the plant has some small garden stones to let water drain. It has mixed sphagnum and Better-Gro orchid medium for Paphs. What I'll do is look for a smaller plastic pot, put some tiny stones in the bottom and I will change the mixed mediums already have for new one, taking advantage because I'll be repotting it... again...

Thanks a lot! I LOVE this website!
Mood: HAPPY..!
:-)