Repotting Paphs

[stinkypaph]

Is it possible, or wise, to repot two or more paphs together into the same pot? Thanks in advance for help

[MrHappyRotter]

If they're divisions of the same plant, or if you're putting sick/stressed plants into a community pot, maybe?

Otherwise, I wouldn't put two different plants together in the same pot. If you like that look, pot them separately and then place each pot down into a bigger pot, fill in with decorative bark/rocks/whatever.

I suppose if you were going for a grand display, you could temporarily pot paphs together, or pot a bunch of a smaller species (Paph. helenae) around a much larger species, like Paph. kolopakingii.

[wintergirl]

I don't raise paphs, but I had 3 yellow noid phals and I put them together in one large pot. They are doing great, they are similar plants with similar needs and all were healthy.

[estación seca]

Similar paphs is the key. Different paphs take very different culture, and if you mix the ones that need to almost dry out with the ones that need to stay quite moist, or the ones that need to stay warm with the ones that need to get cool in the winter, you'll have trouble.

[Fairorchids]

If you would ever consider to submit plants to an orchid show, it is frowned upon to have two different plants in the same pot.

It is OK to present multiple plants (with individual labels) in a basket or other communal container.

[Paphluvr]

The other thing to consider is that once they grow, and assuming they have a good root system, it becomes very difficult to get them apart because the roots will be all inter grown. It becomes very tedious and frustrating or results in a lot of broken roots.

[stinkypaph]

Thank you for all the wonderful advice. I never considered the roots growing together but that makes perfect sense. I read in another thread something about the colors of each plant affecting one another. My paphs all have similar needs, but based on everyone's advice I think I'm keeping them apart.

Out of curiosity, why is it frowned upon at shows to pot up different orchids together?

Thanks again!