Paphiopedilum Harrisianum with drooping leaves

[floempie01]

The leaves of my Paphiopedilum Harrisianum have started to droop. I think this started after I changed my watering method to soaking once or twice. Should I expect it to recover?

[Ray]

Loss of turgor suggests the plant isn't taking up enough water and that can be due to simply underwatering by you or it can mean the roots have been compromised and it will need to grow replacements.

[estación seca]

How often are you watering it? How long have you had it? When was it last repotted?

[tmoney]

hmmm, yeah, that looks alarmingly droopy. we will see an occasional top leaf droop over as it elongates and it is at a wierd angle to the sun, but that is in semi-hydroponics. even our paphs in bark will have a one off droop every now and then. with watering a couple times a week, i would also suggest a peek at the roots and a media change. little guy looks sad.

still pretty green tho, so if you can get on it i would feel confident in a recovery. good luck!

[floempie01]

Thanks all! I took it out of its pot and looked at the roots. I found a number of loose roots, and also tiny white bugs that would quickly crawl back under the bark out of the light. Looks like Symphyla, if I got that right. so either the roots rotted loose or the symphyla chomped through.

I repotted in new bark, although the new bark is bit bigger than it was in. There were some new tiny white/green roots growing near the stem. I'll see whether it pulls through.

[tmoney]

interesting on the bugs. we often struggle to id little bugs, but if they are tiny and moving thru the roots, fingers crossed they are an isopod of some type and not harmful.

also, while i am no expert, the root mass does seem a bit small for the foliage mass it has to support, so hopefully you get some of those nubbins to grow and you can save her!!

good luck!!

[Roberta]

Those brown fuzzy roots are normal (and healthy) - Paph roots look a lot different! I think your plant just needs much more water. Paphs should never dry out. If the bark is large, you could water it every day or every other day.