Please help with "Nappa Valley"

[Nanook 2010]

Hello everyone,
Please help a new orchid grower...I received this as a gift and it doesn't look like its doing well...

I only water about once every 7 to 10 days and it is getting the same light as my dendrobiums

any advice would be great

J

[glengary54]

nanook - I really can't see much in your photo, would it be possible to upload another that is a bit larger and more of a close up. I really want a good shot of the roots, leaves and the base of the plant.

[Nanook 2010]

Glenn,
I know the picture stinks...I already repotted it..and I can describe it to you, but if you would still like another pic it won't be that hard to repot...

I received it as a gift and it was potted in moss..... I wanted to use the same medium for all my plants so I repotted it into bark....It just looked so sad to me I un-potted it to check the roots....

The roots were crumbling in my hand and the base of the leaves look rather wilted... I tend to overwater so I am trying to let all my orchids go for about 7 to 10 days (except vandas) before I water again....

It is still very hot here in Georgia ...temps in the low 90's and I have moved a fan to my porch to improve airflow......so the plants dry out rather quick

does this help??? If not I can send un-pot and send more pics

thank you for the help
J

[WhiteRabbit]

bark is good for Paphs, tho usually fine bark, or combo of medium and fine - they do not want to dry out

[glengary54]

nanook - the reason I asked was because I couldn't tell if the roots were rotten or if they were crispy. Paph roots unlike other orchids are brown so without good pictures it hard to see what you are dealing with. Now that you said that the roots were crumbling in your hands and that you were only watering every 7 - 10 days in Georgia, I have to assume that you are not watering the plant enough. Paphs stress out a bit with our southern heat. It's good that you added the fan to help cool the plant but you can not let the plant completely dry out in this heat. Are there any good solid roots left on the plant? If so you can leave it in the bark mix but make sure to water it and not to let it get to dry. If there are no good roots, I would put it back in moss but make sure that the moss isn't packed into the pot, move it to a shady location and let it recover. I hope that this helps.

[Eyebabe]

Could also be a phrag.
Both have brown hairy roots.
If the roots are firm, as far as I know, that means they are okay.

[Ray]

Leaf shape gives it away as a paph.

It actually looks pretty healthy to me, but it should be getting about half the light level of the dendrobium - unless, of course, if you're not giving the den enough...

[Nanook 2010]

Thanks everyone...

Here is a pic of the repot...put it into moss and a clear pot to help me monitor water level!

J