Question about growing paphs...........

[Leafmite]

So, I found the Antec list that shows which paph species like calcium and which do not. What happens in the case of crosses like paph Lynnleigh Koopowitz? I use snow/rain/distilled water. The rain water and snow would be on the acidic side due to Ohio's air pollution, the distilled water is neutral. If grown by seed, is it possible to know what the particular individual will like? I am obviously a little confused. Thanks,
leafmite

[Ray]

ALL plants need calcium, it's a matter of how much. Those that the Antec list shows as needing it just have more demand, and I don't think there is any harm in feeding some to all of your plants - in fact, it's a benefit.

Concerning pure water, even distilled, DI, and RO water will come to an equilibrium with the atmospheric carbon dioxide, resulting in a pH of about 5.3-5.4.

Do not equate calcium demand with pH. Sure calcium compounds tends to be basic minerals, but most plants will still do best if the applied solution is on the acidic side.

Growing in s/h culture, my applied solution (MSU Fert with 8% Ca) is the ONLY control I have on pH, and I shoot for the upper-5's/low-6's, and all of my plants - including the calceolarious paphs - are thriving.

I'm in the middle of a plant nutrition trial with a number of others, all using a low-K version of the MSU stuff, and it's looking promising. I'll share some details shortly.

[The Orchid Boy]

I love the various forms of Paph. Delenatii! I like the typical pink, the white form, and the vinicolor form. It is a very tough little plant.
I use a mix of fine fir bark, sphagnum moss, and sometimes charcoal or perlite for my paphiopedilums. I use just about any kind of pot: clear, plastic, clay... I also use clear drinking cups with holes and slots cut in them. They make great, cheap clear palstic pots.
I would stay away from glazed ceramic, they can poison and kill orchids if potted directly into one.

[Lagoon]

I completely argee with you Tucker! Grow what you grow best in, tweek and make the changes when needed.
When is you're paph comming??

[The Orchid Boy]

I heard an experience of a green house grower one time with his paph delenatii. He knocked to pot off the bench, media went everywhere and he set it bareroot on the bench. It sat there unpotted and unwatered for over a week and it was fine! I've found paph delenatii is VERY easy to bloom and ver tough too. I bought a small, never bloomed, single growth paph delenatii in November from perfect greenhouse conditions, I accidentally repotted it when it was in low spike (thought it was a leaf), and it is in spike now and is growing fast. Usually for me orchids take a bit longer to adapt and bloom from greenhouse conditions. In my opinion delenatii is one of the prettiest, toughest, unifloral, species paphs.
My absolute favorite paph medium is this: 7 parts fine orchid bark (Orchidata is best), 1 part sphagnum moss, and one part small volcanic rock. If you go to repotme.com they have an option to make your own media.

---------- Post added at 09:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:45 PM ----------

This thread may give you some tips and ideas: http://www.orchidboard.com/community...eaf-paphs.html
If growing other paphs this might still be useful.