Paphiopedilum with pleated leaves?

[Blueszz]

A while ago I purchased a Paphiopedilum hybrid (NOID, American). It has green leaves.
I think that one of the newer growths has pleated leaves. Not as the pleated leaves in the Oncidium alliance, but the pleating shows up in the length of the leave. This is the only leave that currently is growing.
Any ideas what caused this? Inconsistent watering?

I can't find any pests on the plant. After it finished blooming I repotted it. Roots looked very well. The new medium is much looser than the old medium and might hold water not as good as the old medium.
The plant is in the same medium as my Paphiopedilum Maudiae, which grows nicely after I repotted it.
Both are in my North faced window. As light concerns, the leaves from the Maudiae lost their color from too much light. Now this one gets filtered light from plastic sheeting that I attached to the window. The American hybrid with the pleated (?) leaves still gets full light thru this window and the color of the leaves is the same color as green as when I purchased the plant.

Temperature in this window: 64 - 71 F
Humidity in this window sill: 45-53 %

Currently my digital camera has the hiccups, so sorry, not pictures to share right now.

What do you think? Humidity? Watering? Something else?

Nicole

[billc]

Hi Nichole, I have a lowii that I think is in the same state you are describing. It's more of a crinkling of the leaves than the pleating you see in the onc. alliance plants. I had it in a bark, moss, perlite mix for 3 yrs (changed yearly) and it started to develop the crinkles. The roots looked good each time I repotted it. I was told by a paph vendor at an orchid show, it probably needed water more often, but I thought I would drown it in the mix I was using. I changed to S/H 1 1/2 yrs ago, and have really seen no change in the leaves. It flowered this year, so I'm thinking it must be getting the nourishment it needs. Other than crappy looking leaves, the plant seems well. Here's a picture below.
Maybe someone that really knows what they're doing will chime in.
PS. I hope my cheap camera will show the leaf detail.

Bill

[Bolero]

Usually crinkly leaves (not I can't claim to know everything) indicates a lack of water. I think you certainly need to water it more often. When was the last time you checked the root system?

Humidity is a bit low for the genera as well so overall moisture could be the problem (well I think it is).

I don't know if changing the mix is the answer, if you adjust your watering to suit the climate and conditions - as well as the mix you grow in then you may find it improves a bit. If your humidity was a little higher things might be different. Anyway just my thoughts.

[Blueszz]

Thank you Bill and Bolero for your input.
I know I should rise the humidity :-(

I managed to make a picture with my camera:



What do you think, to me it looks different as the problem Bill has with his plant.

[billc]

Other than the crease where the arrow is pointing, your leaves seem to look very healthy. I wouldn't worry about it too much. Bolero is correct about the humidity. I can only get it about as high as you, 40-45%. My other paphs do just fine in less than perfect conditions. My temps are similar to yours, and I grow in a east window. I usually have the lowii behind some colmanara so I don't have to see it, and obsess about it.

Bill

[Blueszz]

Thank you Bill :-)
I'm afraid increasing the watering regime. Scared for root rot. I'll never let it dry out, keep it always slightly moist and then it gets watered again.
Maybe I just should wait to see what the next leaf does. Keep you posted about this.

[smartie2000]

i'd leave it alone Blueszz, your other leaves look fine.

[Bolero]

I agree the plant looks mostly ok, maybe the leaf will flatten out once it comes right out.

Good luck and keep us posted with what happens next.