Sad paph. w/ pix and ID - Orchid Board

lys · #1 07-09-2008, 10:36 AM

Hey guys. I've had these 2 paphs since December.

#1) Hsinying Ouyx 'Silver Wings' x Calsow 'Ching Hua'
#2) Raisin Candy 'Candy Kayne' x Shadow Wings 'Peacock Supreme'

They've had their ups and downs but had been doing seemingly well until just recently. The new growth on #2 had been droopy until I fertilized it, then it perked right back up. Now it's new growth is drooping again, it's roots are looking sad, and some of the bottom leaves are browning or changing directions! I tried to fertilize again but without the good results as I experienced last time. #1 is doing gang busters- with new pups coming out of every direction. #2 had one new pup that didn't make it. Just seems to be on a downward spiral. I was hoping someone could help me troubleshoot this one before it croaks!

shakkai · #2 07-09-2008, 12:56 PM

Hi Lys,

What is your normal watering routine? And what have you used to fertilize?

Can you describe what you mean by 'sad looking' roots? Are they dry and hard, or wet and mushy? Did you repot them when you got them, or did you just keep them in the growing medium they were in?

Sorry to ask so many questions, but the answer could help determine what is going on!

Oscarman · #3 07-09-2008, 01:02 PM

#2's older growth has remnants of a past flowering and I think you can expect that to die off eventually as the new growth gets larger.
#1 looks good.

Does your pot have drainage?

lys · #4 07-09-2008, 02:43 PM

Hey Shakkai & Oscarman, thanks for helping. My normal watering routine is a good soaking on Sunday with a light nutrient mix (pure blend pro), then once or twice during the week with filtered water if it's looking dry. The roots used to look thick, fuzzy, dark and plump, with definitely signs of growth. Now they seem dry, shriveled and lighter in color- even when the potting mix is moist. I repotted them shortly after their blooms ceased in January with a similar mix to what they were in initially. The pot has great drainage. Both plants are together... which may or may not have been the best idea. The pot is wide enough to where I don't think their roots will intertwine. But it seems odd that one is doing so well and the other so poorly!

shakkai · #5 07-09-2008, 04:42 PM

Lys, It sounds like you are doing all the right things. It could be just what Dave mentioned, that the old growth will die off naturally after flowering. I was concerned about the look of the newest leaf in your photo, though. It looks as though its not getting enough water. If its the roots from the old growth that look dry and shriveled, then I wouldn't worry too much, but if the roots from the new growth look the same way, then you may need to take it out of the shared pot. The #2 in the pot looks like its happy in there, so I wouldn't want to change anything for it.

unhappykat · #6 07-11-2008, 12:38 AM

The newer leaf looks as though it is not recieving enough light. Do you grow indoors or in a green house. Try to give it a little more light to perk up the leaf. Remember to water more as you increase light intensity. If possible allow the plant to grow out of doors under dappled light from a tree where it can go through the temperature changes that are responsible for maturation of growth in most paph hybrids. I had a plant with a similar limp leaf that perked up when it recieved higher light and temperature changes outside.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shakkai

Lys, It sounds like you are doing all the right things. It could be just what Dave mentioned, that the old growth will die off naturally after flowering. I was concerned about the look of the newest leaf in your photo, though. It looks as though its not getting enough water. If its the roots from the old growth that look dry and shriveled, then I wouldn't worry too much, but if the roots from the new growth look the same way, then you may need to take it out of the shared pot. The #2 in the pot looks like its happy in there, so I wouldn't want to change anything for it.