Best bark Size/Grade for Paphs

[RosieC]

So, when I got my first Paph last year it came in a very large grade of bark (much bigger than my Phals are in).

When I repotted I used a large grade mix because I assumed that was what it needed (as that is what it came in).

But now I have read several times that Paphs need a fine grade bark mix and so I'm usure. It seems to be doing OK in the large grade stuff. I've not had massive amounts of growth this year, but there has been some.

Do ALL Paphs need/prefer fine grade, or is it possible some prefer large grade? The Paph I got last year is a complex bulldog type of Paph and the roots are much thicker than something like a Den (which I know needs fine grade for it's fine roots). They are brown and furry roots and are perhaps a tad thinner than a Phal's roots, but not by much.

I bought a new Maudiae Paph yesterday and that is in much finer medium. I haven't looked at it's roots yet so I don't know how they compare.

Can anyone advise me on whether my Bulldog type Paph would be better off in a finer mix

[quiltergal]

Rosie, I have kind of a mixed bag going on here. I have some potted in large CHC, and some in fine. I have a bulldog I purchased in the spring that the grower repotted for me and it's in very large fir bark. They all seem to be doing fine. I do notice I don't need to water the ones in finer grade as often as I do the large grade. Most of mine were repotted a year ago and I did notice that growth seemed to slow down quite a bit while the roots re-established themselves. Now that it's been about a year since repotting they seem to be growing normally again.

Not much help I know. Sorry!

[RosieC]

Thanks Terri,

It IS a help to know someone else is doing different things with different plants. I might just wait until I'm repotting anyway then give it a try in something else.

I have bags of very large bark, medium CHC, fine bark and perlite. I mix these together based on what I think each plant needs.

For my Den and my Mltps I use fine bark, CHC and perlite. For Phals I use less of the fine bark and add some large bark.

When I repotted the bulldog Paph I used none of the fine bark and about half and half large bark and CHC with some perlite thrown in, now I'm wondering if I should have gone closer to what I used for the Den and Mltps

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

From what I've read of Paphs (doing research for section Parvisepalum and Brachypetalum, as I have a Paph niveum coming in sometime in the next couple weeks). It depends on what kind of Paph you own.

For species it'll be easier to discern. Hybrids are a whole different ball game. I believe you would have to research how the constituents of the hybrid each grows.

Here's what I can offer up...

Certain Paphs grow on rotten wood. Others in leaf litter or top soil. However, there are a few that are lithophytes (grows on rocks). There may be other oddballs out there, but at this point I don't know what they are.

I think it's best to sort it all out before coming to a conclusion as to which grows how.

[Hedge]

Hi Rosie

i have three paphs and so far they are all in a medium/fine bark as that is what they came in. However, don't assume the grower knows best as when one of mine got knocked over by the dog (don't ask!) its roots were all round the outer edge at the top third of the pot

Paphiopedilum with entwined roots at top of pot.

I repotted it in its own mix as I didn't have anything else to hand and spread the roots out and it is now growing well, with careful watering.

As long as they are happy the precise mix isn't too important IMO

[billc]

Hi Rosie, From what I've found, it's the other parts of your culture that will dictate the size of the bark in your mix. If you are a heavy waterer, use the larger bark. If you can control yourself to water only when needed, use the medium size bark, with some fine mixed in. Most Paphs come from areas where they get drenching rains & monsoon winds that dry them out, so you want a mix that is open yet will retain moisture to the roots.
I've been using medium bark (8 parts), medium perlite(1 part) chopped sheet moss(1 part) with fair sucess.
One trick I found that really helped me with watering( I was a heavy waterer), is to pot up the mix, with no plant, in the same size pot I have the plants in and when I think I should water, knock the mix out and see how wet it still is. It's eye opening.
The fur on your furry brown roots are actually the root hairs that are taking the water from the mix for the plant to use. You want them to have availible moisture, but not be sitting in water.

Good Luck, Bill

[billc]

Hi Rosie, From what I've found, it's the other parts of your culture that will dictate the size of the bark in your mix. If you are a heavy waterer, use the larger bark. If you can control yourself to water only when needed, use the medium size bark, with some fine mixed in. Most Paphs come from areas where they get drenching rains & monsoon winds that dry them out, so you want a mix that is open yet will retain moisture to the roots.
I've been using medium bark (8 parts), medium perlite(1 part) chopped sheet moss(1 part) with fair sucess.
One trick I found that really helped me with watering( I was a heavy waterer), is to pot up the mix, with no plant, in the same size pot I have the plants in and when I think I should water, knock the mix out and see how wet it still is. It's eye opening.
The fur on your furry brown roots are actually the root hairs that are taking the water from the mix for the plant to use. You want them to have availible moisture, but not be sitting in water.

Good Luck, Bill

[RosieC]

Thanks everyone.

With both my Paphs being complex hybrids it's very hard to know what conditions they would be best in (as they don't have a natural enviroment, not being found in nature).

I tend to underwater if anything, so I think that next time I repot I will add some more of the finer stuff. The Den which is in fine bark and sits near my Paphs often shows signs of dehydration (wrinkling canes) before I water, then plumps up when I water (not on purpose you understand, but I have a tendency to underwater on everything). As the Paphs get watered at the same time they are probably being kept way to dry as well, so a finer mix may help.

[quiltergal]

Rosie I found as I gained more experience I could tell if they needed watering by pot weight. I'm using clear slotted plastic pots for everything but I have found that different brands and styles of clear slotted pots dry out way faster than others. I agree with Bill, the size/type of medium isn't so important as long as you adjust your watering accordingly.

I've heard the complex Paphs are trickier to grow. They seem to be touchier to too much or too little water. I only have one and it seems to be growing nicely in large fir bark. We'll see if I can get it to rebloom!