What's wrong with my Paph?

[Becca]

Hi Everyone. I have had an ongoing issue with my Paph. delenatii. The two lower leaves had some reddish-orange speckles on the leaves. I couldn't figure out what was going on. Then very very slowely, like over a month, the two lower leaves started turning the same color completely. Well I figured no biggy, lower leaves die off sometimes. But know I am seeing the same thing on it's upper two leaves. It is growing a new root currently and a new leaf, all within the last month. Do I have something to worry about, and if so what? This particular Paph is in a bark mixture that it came in from Cal-Orchids this last May or June. I didn't see any growth until this last month. I water once a week with RO water and I keep it on the floor of my orchidarium so it doesn't get extreme light...well my meter is reading 300 footcandles, but it gets this all day long for about 12 hours. I also fertilizer 3 out of 4 waterings with MSU fertalizer, which when I switched to the MSU, is about when I started seeing new growth. I take care to make sure I am not getting water on the 'chid so I won't have rot or bacterial issues. Oh, and I haven't seen any bugs on it either. Did I miss anything?
Here are the pictures:

[tuvoc]

Becca, my first thought is 3 out of 4 waterings with fertilizer sounds like a bit too much. You might be getting some root burn, which will cause slow growth, not to mention a bunch of other problems. Hopefully a real expert on Paphs can help you some more.

Kim

[quiltergal]

Becca, how often are you watering? I have a delenatii that I've had since June and it's doing great. I water twice a week. Once with MSU and once with plain tap water. Mine is getting a lot more light than yours. It's getting around 1000-1500 fc and is sharing space with my phals. I'm guessing yours isn't getting enough light, and possibly not enough water. They definitately don't like to completely dry out like phals do.

[Becca]

Well I have been watering it once a week. It sits next to my other paphs that are doing great. One is in s/h and it is taking off like a rocket, so if lighting was really an issue, would I see growth like that on my other paphs? And if it was the fertilizer, wouldn't I be having the same problem with the others? That is the part that stumps me. I am afraid if I water more then once a week that it won't give the center of the pot to dry out enough and rot the roots. My humidity is around 60-65% in the orchidarium. Like I said, I am not having problems with the others next to it, just this one. Any idea of what the reddish-orange specks on the leaves could be? Thansk for the help you two!

[Becca]

On another thought, since it is putting out a new root....maybe I should plop it into s/h?

[Lagoon]

Becca,

I agree, its not getting enough light, also too much fertilizer.
The slowed growth is likey the lighting, ferts will not help since the light energy isn't there.

[Becca]

Originally Posted by Lagoon

Becca,

I agree, its not getting enough light, also too much fertilizer.
The slowed growth is likey the lighting, ferts will not help since the light energy isn't there.

I understand that the lighting seems low for it and I thought that to when I first placed it where it is, but then why would the paph next to it be growing like crazy?

[Lagoon]

Not all paphs need the same lighting requirements. What's your paphs roommate??

[Becca]

Originally Posted by Lagoon

Not all paphs need the same lighting requirements. What's your paphs roommate??

Good point! It's roommate that is growing like a rocket and sitting right next to it is a Paph. Macabre. I figured since they both had the molted leaves that they would need similar requirements Perhaps my Macabre isn't growing as fast as it really could! I will move the lighting up on them. Would the fertilizer be the same issue? One Paph may not need as much as the others?

[caseydoll]

Becca, I really have no clue what could be wrong with your paph. But to add to the confusion I must tell you that I have one that I bought in June as well. It's a lot smaller than yours though. I have it in bark mix in a 3 inch slotted pot. I water once a week with MSU for pure water at 125ppm. I fertilize with every watering. It's sitting in my poorly lit east window with all my other light neglected 'chids. But it's growing one new leaf after another and it looks like it's getting bigger everytime I look at it. So, at least with mine, low light and fertilizing too much hasn't hurt anything. I thought that may help you rule a few things out. But I suppose every orchid is different...