Thinking about getting a Paph, need advice

[SaraJean]

Thought I would do something unusual and ask first, buy later

Paphs scare me. They look like something that would rot from the crown easily, rot off new growths, or just resent my hot temperatures, but they’re pretty cute (like the Paph. bellatulum) so I need some advice or tips on how y’all grow these things. Or, just let me know if it’s a terrible idea... I grow everything outdoors, windowsill growing is not an option, and it is typically in the mid to upper 90’s and occasionally in the low 100’s (F) late May through September. We also do not have a good cool down at night, it’s just slightly less hot. Our humidity is high ranging from 80%-98% during that time of the year. I have a pedestal fan, set at hurricane speed, on all of my orchids 24/7 mid spring through fall to help cool things down. Rain is also frequent and the spot where I grow does not have overhead protection from the rain, only shade cloth. I have a wide range of lighting in my little grow space and am successfully growing Phals (mounted), Dendrobiums, Cattleyas (mostly Brazilian species), Bulbophyllums, Catasetums, and a few Sarcochilus that are getting ready to bloom for me for the first time. I have one Phrag pearcei that I think is doing well (EDIT: I do understand that phrags and paphs have different requirements especially when when it comes to watering) but I really would like a proper Paph. like the Paph. bellatulum that I mentioned above. I’m open to hybrids or species if anyone has any suggestions.
Thanks!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Temperatures for Paph bellatulum are fine.

Humidity range is fine.

Moderate indirect bright light is what they need.

Occasional calcium supplementation is important.

Medium grade to large grade bark for potting medium works.

Water when dry.

They grow very slow.

Some Paphs grow as slow as Phals or slower.

Roots are naturally pretty sparse on these kinds of Paphs. Be careful not to grow them too wet. It is better to grow them a bit drier than too wet. Once the roots are rotten, it will take forever to get them going again if you are able to get them to recover.

Once the crown rots off, it is game over. They do not grow back leaves like Phals do when all the leaves have fallen off.

A Paph species I like is Paph sanderianum. These are, in my opinion, not terribly difficult to grow.

[SaraJean]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Temperatures for Paph bellatulum are fine.

Humidity range is fine.

Moderate indirect bright light is what they need.

Occasional calcium supplementation is important.

Medium grade to large grade bark for potting medium works.

Water when dry.

They grow very slow.

Some Paphs grow as slow as Phals or slower.

Roots are naturally pretty sparse on these kinds of Paphs. Be careful not to grow them too wet. It is better to grow them a bit drier than too wet. Once the roots are rotten, it will take forever to get them going again if you are able to get them to recover.

Once the crown rots off, it is game over. They do not grow back leaves like Phals do when all the leaves have fallen off.

A Paph species I like is Paph sanderianum. These are, in my opinion, not terribly difficult to grow.

Well this is encouraging!
Good to know about the calcium. I just started paying better attention to this last year and supplementing my Dens, Catts, and my 2 Angrecums. Saw far less problems and stronger growth.

That’s perfectly fine that they are slow growing. I have my Catasetums for my instant gratification orchids

For media, could lava rock be a possibility? Since you mention To water when dry (or I am assuming, at minimum, they want a bit of air around their roots), many of my orchids in pots don’t really dry out for about 4 months. I just give them an airy root zone with using lava rock or LECA, clay pots or baskets, and increased air circulation. I do have a few things in plastic pots with lava rock that are doing well. The exceptions to this are my Bulbos, Catasetums, and Stans; those don’t seem to care and if they are being grown like drowned rats most of the year...

For crown rot: Is watering from above an usually an issue? Is water in the crown an issue when they are in spike? I do have a small area under my balcony where I can move a few orchids with developing spikes. That area doesn’t get good light though so it is not great for long term growing.

The Paph sanderianum is beautiful. I will keep an eye out for that or any hybrids with it in the background

Thank you!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Lava rock is fine. Many Paphs are naturally lithophytes anyways. Many of them grow on limestone outcrops or cliffs.

Only a few are true epiphytes.

I told you about them being slow growing to caution about how they can be difficult to grow in this regard. If there is a bad mistake made, they are difficult to recover. Keep mistakes to a minimum on the slower growers.

Crown rot is usually a result of root damage from overwatering. The infections are secondary in nature.

Paph sanderianum is actually one of the relatively faster growing ones. I found this species to be pretty easy to grow.

In my experience, there is also another species of Paph that is easy to grow. I currently grow this particular species and have had it for a few years. I just forgot the name because I didn't make tags for it.

[Fairorchids]

For N'Awlins summers, subgenus brachypetalums (bellatulum concolor, niveum, etc.) would be best choice. Paph delentaii should be fine too.

Sigmatopetalum group (callosum, barbatum, mastersianum, etc., incl. Maudiae type hybrids) will probably be OK too.

After you get experience with these, you might want to try some of the warmer growing multi-florals (subgenus polyantha).

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Found the name for the Paph I currently have!

Paphiopedilum parishii. This one can grow a bit cooler than many of the Paphs commonly sold.

[SaraJean]

Excellent. And I am happy to hear that the Paph bellatulum could do well for me! That was the first Paphiopedilium that caught my eye. Thank you both for these suggestions and tips.
Philip, I will keep an eye on the root heath and try to keep mistakes to a minimum. I have a few other slow growers that have a tiny margin for errors, so I definitely understand what you are saying.
The Paph parishii is lovely. I know winter care will be dependent on what ever species or hybrid I settle on, but I am set up to grow things that need anything from warm-cold. There is a section for my most sensitive warm growers that I try to keep night temps around 65F. A more intermediate area for most everyone else that drops to 50- 55f at night. And for my cold loving Dens, I just leave them outside most of the winter. My humidity is still good through the winter, the only time it’s low (30%-50% is low for us) is off and on in the spring and fall.

I’m going to Redland Fest this year so I will keep an eye out for some of these

[BotanicaExotica]

Hi Sara!

I am also in New Orleans! Though I do grow under lights. You should be fine growing a paph bellatulum outdoors most of the year here. I was growing outdoors before I set up my grow space indoors. I've rarely had a problem with crown rot since outdoors we have pretty decent air movement coming off the coast. I did not see it mentioned above, but make sure you use a low nitrogen fertilizer on paphs. High nitrogen fertilizer will burn your roots and you will fail growing them unless you really dilute it to half strength or less. The problem with that though is you can have too few micro-nutrients, so just use a bloom booster fertilizer. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions and I will do my best to answer them. Are you a member of our orchid society?

[SaraJean]

Hi there! Yes, I’m one of the newer members. I was a bit late to the game signing up, the meetings had always conflicted with my work schedule, but I was finally able to join late last year. I’m the short, tattooed one with gray hair I’ve really enjoyed all of our meetings and all of the members have been great

My fertilizer regime that I have been using on all of my other orchids has been the MSU for reverse osmosis water mixed at a rate of roughly 20-25ppmNitrogen per gallon of water. Most of my orchids are getting watered daily this time of the year. I do have a few more sensitive ones that I alternate days with either rainwater or pure r/o water. I also make sure I keep all of my pot flushed of salt build up. I’m not sure where Paphs would fall and if this is low enough nitrogen for them? Either way I will be sure to chat you up during the our next meeting! Thanks for the help