Replanting new paph

[Judi]

Hi, I’m new to paphs and need some advise. I have quite a few epiphytic chids, but this is my first paph. I just purchased a new very healthy looking paph from Lowes with 6 mottled leaves and a large flower bud. It is planted in a regular green 4-inch plastic pot in what appears to be all sphagnum moss, which is heavily packed and quite wet. I removed some of the moss at the top because I thought the paph was planted too deep--the base of the lowest 4 leaves were covered with moss, I also tried to loosen the rest of the moss in the pot. My question is what is the best pot size and planting medium for a paph and when should I repot it ? I usually repot all chids as soon as I take them home, but I’m not sure if replanting now would damage the bud or cause bud drop. Please , I’d appreciate your input!

[greenbean]

Hi Judi!

I'm new to paphs. too. From what I know, they are like other orchids, choose the pot to fit the root mass. I think it was very smart to uncover those lower leaves. That would have likely led to rot.

As for mediums, mine is in a mix of fine bark and perlite and seems to be doing fine. Although I think i might need to water a bit more. Unlike many beginning gardeners and orchid growers I tend to underwater more than overwater. I'm just weird. I think any fine but well draining orchid medium would work fine, just remember that paphs like more water than epiphytes!

Hopefully a more experienced grower will chime in on this.

[shakkai]

Hi Judi, Congrats on your new purchase. I agree with greenbean, pick the pot to fit the roots. All of my Paphs are in a find bark, perlite and charcoal mix. I would go ahead and repot, even with the bud. Also, I have found it helpful to use clear plastic pots with the Paphs so that you can see if the medium down in the pot is still moist, so that its easier to judge when to water.

Good luck with you new plant! Can't wait to see photos of the flower when it opens!

[John D.]

Removing the medium that was up around the lowest leaves was a good idea but often Paphs will make new root growth in the area of the lowest leaves. Watch for that and try to cover the area when it occurs so the new roots don't dry out and stop growing.

[Judi]

Thanks everyone for your input--I will get some clear plastic pots and repot the paph. I can't wait for the flower to open either, I'll be sure to take a picture and post it. Any ideas as to how long it takes for the flower to open and if the flowers last as long as the phals I have?

[Judi]

Well it finally bloomed so I am attaching photos . Picture quality doesn't do the flower justice, but in my defense, the camera is on its last legs and I had three 6-month old kittens helping me

[greenbean]

Beautiful! ....if a little blurry, but close-ups can be a little hard. No worries.

As to how long the flowers will last, probably around 2.5 months or more. Depends on the chid and the conditions.

And thanks for the tip John. I had been worrying about that a little myself and had timidly been brushing some of the bark chips up around the base so the new roots didn't dry out. I think I need to repot a bit deeper though. It's pretty high.

[breeindy]

Not sure on the bud dropping but i'd repot the paph into a pot the roots just fit in, with a bit of charchol on the bottom and a coco chip/bark, volcanic rock, charchol and perlite mix, maybe with a bit of sphag. moss around the base, where the roots grow out. Keep moist/humid and in shade.