Advice needed!!! Paph. moquettianum

[nancy]

My spouse gave me this for our anniversary. I am not a novice orchid grower. Zone 9a, Louisiana gulf coast, very hot, very humid outside. I grow a lot of things (orchid-wise), including some real oddballs, but have never grown a Paph.
What can I do to grow this successfully here? Including potting medium, inside or outside, light, water, etc.?
I also grow no Phalaenopsis, so please don't tell me to grow them the same!
I've been told that mottled-leaf Paphs. are the only kind we can grow here (more heat-tolerant) though one of our society members grows all kinds successfully (she is in league with satan, though - I am just a geek).
Soooo - advice?
Thanks - Nancy
Blooming: catasetum, clowesia, clowesetia, rodreguesia, howeara, vandas, vandas, vandas!

[smartie2000]

Grow it in fine bark mix just like the ones mentioned in other recent paph threads. Don't let the media dry go bone dry, but also do not over water or keep it soggy or you will loose roots.
This one will bloom for months as they are sequential bloomers, and they are easy growers. Excellent choice.

[nancy]

Will it be happy outside? Recent temps - daytime 97F(36C) and 80F(26C) at night. Breathtaking!
This is slightly warmer than normal. Not much, though.
Thanks - Nancy

[IdahoOrchid]

The best advice is to get together with you society member and learn there.

[western orchid]

hey there,

The paph will really enjoy the humidity levels that your climate can provide, but those temps are a bit high. In general, paphs can tolerate those temps for periods of time, as they are very adaptable but consistantly 97 degrees may cause the poor guy to suffer somewhat. Moquetteanum is an especially forgiving paph. It seems to flower in either a cool or warm environment, but does best in the warm and humid spot. It likes lots of water in the growing season and benefits from a bit of moss by its roots. In its native habitat (southwest Java, Indonesia), average temps range from 85-69, summer to 79-64 in winter.

Hope that helps, enjoy your new paph. Moquetteanum is a wonderful and very rewarding plant for your first paph.

[Tricho]

Hi Nancy

That one is not particularly difficult.

It likes a warm temperature, around 25ºC, but can take more.

My opinion:
keep it humid almost all year round. you can use fine bark mix (as mentioned), I use medium and it also works. It likes calcareous media, so you can use limestone. If you don't have it and your water does not have Calcium you can put some egg shells in the bark.

I believe these plants benefit of having a very open media, so use something inert (or calcareous) to do it.

I use this site for quick data:
slipperorchids.info

Good luck

[cupcake]

Any chance of a photo? Great Hubby by the way! I have to hint heavily!

[slipperfreak]

You have an easy growing and blooming species, a sequential bloomer. Give it low-moderate light, keep it evenly moist but not wet, in intermediate temps.