Paph. rothschildianum cultural requirements

[Amanvari]

I am a beginner when when it comes to Paphs. and I have had a P. rothschildianum in my collection for 3 months now and it seems to have not grown at all (the other Paphs. in the same area are doing well). So I would greatly appreciate any tips regarding cultural requirements.

[Lagoon]

Amanvari,

I've got 2 Roths - a seedling & a larger Roth with 1 fan with 3 more fans on the way - It's swollen at the base it should be comming into bloom soon.

Anyways ... I grow them both under 4 - 48inch lights. Potted in a 50% peatmoss based media. The temps vary since I have 4 seasons. During the cooler months the tempts can range from 68 to 72, the growth is slower during this time of year. Warmer months from May to end of august the tempts will push up to 85 degrees with very high humidity.

Again, during the warmer months I drop them down further below the lighting - with the high lighting and higher tempts I've noticed there is some stress to the leaves even though they are even more moist then in the cooler months. They don't grow any less being lowerd down into the shelf a few inches, but they look better with less leaves curves or dimpling look to the leaves -- less stress.

1 thing I have noticed with Roths is that they can take a higher light then my other paphs. With my other paphs I have to take out a few tubes in the onset of summer, they just can't take the ligh and heat together. So push you're roths with higher light, they will grow faster - If there is too much yellowing then just back off a bit.
I fertilize every 2nd week - changing from a 8-7-6 to 24-8-16 -- Miracle gro.

Don't be worried that you're roth is not growing as fast as some of you're others - they are known to be kinda slow

[unhappykat]

I agree that rothschildianum needs the higher light in order to bloom its best. I grow mine outside during the summer months just next to the cymbidiums so it gets 3-4 hours of sun in the morning and very bright dappled shade during the afternoon, during winter I put it where it will receive the most intense, but not direct light. I grow mine in medium bark with about thirty percent sphagnum moss ground into it for moisture and fertilize at every third watering, or so, with either a balanced 10-10-10 or a high nitrogen 50-0-0 for best foliar growth, mine is still a little ways from blooming but its getting there. They are quite slow, I believe seedling bloom 10-12 years after they sprout and divisions can take 2-10 years to recover and bloom again so you need to have lots and lots of patience with this plant.

[Amanvari]

Thank you both. To know that it is a relatively slow grower requiring more light than most other Paphs is already a major help.