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Originally Posted by The Orchid Kid
I hear different things about CHC, but I think as long as it is prepped properly it is a good growing medium.
I will up the water as that seems to be a consensus. I water every two/three weeks or so, bit more in summer. Is it best to have the top always looking slightly moist then?
I think the mix looks fresh, so I am loathe to repot this year. Good idea to leave it?
Amount of light is one of the most puzzling things with orchids. I read Paphs, like Masdevallia, prefer shade. Does that refer to it's natural habitat? With light only from one window on a side in a house and non from above or all around does 'shade' really mean a window that gets a fair bit of light, but no direct sun?
Is the cycle of Paphs to shoot a new growth in the spring/summer, then flower from that in the winter? Followed by another growth of flower, while the other growths effectively remain dormant?
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You have to ask a seller of chc about the quality. I buy from a buyer who claims that theirs is ready to use out of the bag and that is what I do. So far (a few years) no problems whatsoever.
chc does retain moisture but unless they are broken down badly which can take a long time, they are also quite airy I would say.
Phals are epiphyte, so they will not like to stay too moist all the time as compared to paphs which are semi-terrestrial.
Every two or three weeks watering interval is, as someone mentioned, too dry, especially for paphs. Paphs should NEVER dry out.
I believe that is why you are not seeing any flowers. They simply won't. In nature, that is main cue along with temperature (certain species) that signals paphs it is time to flower. You are basically giving them drought season all the time.
I would not repot your paphs as the mix looks new and with the way you've been watering, they probably are new.
I would recommend soaking the entire pot to give your plants good hydration. then let it drain well. I only mist the top inch or so of the mix when I know that there are some shallow roots that dry out between regular watering. If your plants have lots of good roots that circulate the pots, then
misting is not really necessary. it never hurts though!
All three paphs you have, they do not need a lot of light, but they do best with fair a bit. The species that make up the hybrids you have are mostly grow in nature where they get plenty of sun only dappled by tall grass or other trees. During part of the day, they may get direct sunlight a little bit as well, especially the plain green leafed ones.
I grow all my paphs by sunny window that has sheer curtain drawn. Some tall plants like dendrobiums and cattleyas are sitting right up against the window, then the next come my paphs. They are somewhere between 30 cm to 1.5m away from the window. They get quite a bit of light.
Easy way to determine whether your paphs are getting enough light is to place your hand about 30 cm above your paphs during the brightest part of the day and see how strong the shadow is.
If you don't see any shadow, then it is too dark. If you see too sharp cast, then it may be too bright. but if this level of light is only for a very short time of the day, then it should be alright.
If you can just see the shadow, that is ideal. Err on the slightly brighter side. As long as green leaves are not bleaching, it is not getting too much light.
Too little light, the leaves will grow weak and leggy.
Many species that make up your latter two paphs start growing leaves in the spring into early fall. Then they go through somewhat cooler winter during which time they do not grow but prepare for flowering.
Your hybrids will follow the same general pattern. Once they get quite big, they may produce multiple new fans at a time. The new fans can follow after flowering (right after or months after depending on the variety and plant vigor) or many hybrids grow new shoots while in bloom.
Your first one does not have any distinct rest period, but rather grows year around and flower any time of the year when each new fan matures. If the summer is too hot or winter is too cool, they may stop growing until mild weather returns.
All my maudiae type hybrids (like your first one) grow and flower year around.
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