Growing paphs but not getting blooms

[Dulcinea]

I just bought Sugar Suite. It had been in bloom for a while before I purchased it. The bud has now dropped. It’s in the house and 5’ from a south facing window with an overhang. I could move it to my desk which is closer.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Dulcinea

I just bought Sugar Suite. It had been in bloom for a while before I purchased it. The bud has now dropped. It’s in the house and 5’ from a south facing window with an overhang. I could move it to my desk which is closer.

Absolutely. Vandas like it BRIGHT!

[Dulcinea]

It’s a paph. Not a vanda.

[Paphluvr]

Originally Posted by Dulcinea

I just bought Sugar Suite. It had been in bloom for a while before I purchased it. The bud has now dropped. It’s in the house and 5’ from a south facing window with an overhang. I could move it to my desk which is closer.

As long as it doesn't get any direct sun it would definitely like to be closer to the window.

[Dulcinea]

Do your paphs bloom in any particular season?

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Dulcinea

It’s a paph. Not a vanda.

Oops. Sorry for not following the thread well enough.

[estación seca]

Maybe I misunderstood. I thought your photos showed the two plants you just bought?

[Paphluvr]

Originally Posted by Dulcinea

Do your paphs bloom in any particular season?

Yes, they are generally somewhat repeatable year to year (i.e., could be off by a month or so). With a large enough collection you can have Paphs in bloom all year long. Were you looking to have something in bloom at a certain time of year?

[Optimist]

Originally Posted by Dulcinea

Sorry to be unclear. After I gave all my paphs away I purchased two about 4 years ago. They have never bloomed.

I also have had a bit of "paphs not blooming" problems. I got into orchids again after losing most of my collection-- all but 5 including one paph which bloomed once and never bloomed again or even had a second growth. Avalon Druid, (Paph. Avalon Mist x Paph. druryi). It was strange to me that it could just sit there not doing anything and yet also not die. It was like it was in a state of hybernation or something.

So I am getting into orchids again. I have several types, but I want to get really good at paphs and phrags. I made some changes to their care. I got those pots with the slits on the side (clear) from re-pot me. I got 'seedling' size orchiata bark, mixed it with other bigger bark. I put a top dressing of worm casings on the paphs and phrags to emulate natural dirt and bug activity, and I top dressed with glacial rock dust, micorrhizae and Osmacote (I apply the powders with a paint bush). I raised the light level (using a cannabis-style grow light with Veg and Flower settings, which I put on both veg and flower). I am thinking of perhaps getting deeper pots as well. I wanted to specifically emulate a few things. Paphs (and phrags) are not terrestrial, they are semi-terrestrial. They anchor onto clefts in rocks, and the roots are surrounded with leaf litter, and they usually have rain waters running down the bank where they are. They are closely aligned with rocks. I think it is limestone in particular. The rock dust is a way to give them some rock runoff. Lots of the ground dwelling cattleyas too need the rock runoff. (Brazilian Schillerianas for instance, have nearly the same care as Indian paphs and phrags). The mottled tropical paphs are a bit different, but they still are on rock floors surrounded by leaf litter.

Within a month I have a new growth on my "Zombie" paph. Tiny, but hopeful. Although I did several things, the light made the most difference, I think.

The first thing I noticed was that the leaves became glossy and more healthy looking. A new leaf started from the top. (no spike though yet). About a week ago I noticed the tiny new growth, and today it is about 3/8ths of an inch long. I also see a new root descending from nearly the same area.


so-- reading through paph care for a while, I find that the main answer is that you need to change your care. Blooming issues are mostly solved by using the right light. (A Druri will take more light than a mottled paph though). Photo of tiny new growth start.

[Paphluvr]

Optimist, you'll get better root growth if you set the plant lower in the mix. The base of the plant should be below "soil" level. Also, it looks as if you have a bit of rot going on with the lower leaf or two.