Is My New Paph Venestum OK?

[Rowangreen]

Had a bit of a dig today, and unless I'm much mistaken, that new root is now a lot longer (didn't go all the way down it...) and I think I saw hairs on it... Fingers crossed I think it's doing ok!

[The Mutant]

Congrats! It feels great when you, as a Paph newbie, accomplish something like making a new root grow, right? I'm thrilled myself since I've managed to keep the root nubs my roebelenii and my Michael Koopowitz came with, alive and growing (they're more proper roots now and no little nubs anymore).

Keep up the good work!

[Rowangreen]

The very little nub on mine hasn't grown... but I'm hoping that will get going soon. The plant seems to be doing well anyway. The root that was half grown and pale is the one that's grown: it's now darker and like I say seems to have hairs.

[Rowangreen]

PS good luck on your paphs. I've had orchids sulk on me for months. As long as they aren't dying I think you just have to keep hoping! I've one hasn't done anything major for months (Prosthecea radiata), and suddenly 2 days ago it's got a mass of roots growing.

I'm pleased about the hairs on the paph as I'm using the tap water, which I believe is generally good but hard. So I think hairs means it's not burning the roots!

[The Mutant]

Any progress is good progress and the nub will start soon I bet. I was thrilled when the new root on my cerveranum (previously known as ceramense) continued growing after I got it home (but then I wasn't worried about its health as you were about your venustum so it must feel even better for you).

[Rowangreen]

Thought I'd update as my plant is teasing me! It's been growing slowly: the root reached the bottom of the pot, and the newest leaf has been growing slowly most of the time since, ending up being a little larger than the old ones. Then recently it's suddenly grown one small leaf and imediately started another... not sure if I should be hopeful? So far the inner one looks empty...

[Rowangreen]

PS, my curent paph list...

The venustum.
wilhelminiae
callosum (standard)
spicereanum (mature plant with about 5 fans, flowering when I got it)
4x Schöne von Kaunitz (vini maudiae seedlings bought in flask, growing strongly)

I then bought one of several job lots of paphs at an auction. To be honest I think I got the wrong job lot and probably wouldn't have chosen these, but now I've got them...

Franz Glanz
Madison River (a complex hybrid/bulldog)
Taieri Pride or Kee Chin Lim (malipoense x platyphyllum)
And another venustum, lol

[The Mutant]

Originally Posted by Rowangreen

Thought I'd update as my plant is teasing me! It's been growing slowly: the root reached the bottom of the pot, and the newest leaf has been growing slowly most of the time since, ending up being a little larger than the old ones. Then recently it's suddenly grown one small leaf and imediately started another... not sure if I should be hopeful? So far the inner one looks empty...

You never know with these guys, or at least, I don't. Sometimes, I've thought they would bloom, only to have it being a new leaf and nothing more. I'll keep my fingers crossed though!

Originally Posted by Rowangreen

PS, my curent paph list...

The venustum.
wilhelminiae
callosum (standard)
spicereanum (mature plant with about 5 fans, flowering when I got it)
4x Schöne von Kaunitz (vini maudiae seedlings bought in flask, growing strongly)

I then bought one of several job lots of paphs at an auction. To be honest I think I got the wrong job lot and probably wouldn't have chosen these, but now I've got them...

Franz Glanz
Madison River (a complex hybrid/bulldog)
Taieri Pride or Kee Chin Lim (malipoense x platyphyllum)
And another venustum, lol

Such a humble list you've got there. For some reason, the Paphs sort of multiplied in my apartment. I've no idea how that happened.

Here's a list of my Paphs:

Paph. appletonianum
Paph. argus
Paph. barbatum x sib ('Wesley' x 'Perfect Circle') (NEW)
Paph. barbatum var. nigritum
Paph. bundtii
Paph. callosum var. sublaeve
Paph. ceramense or cerveranum
Paph. ciliolare
Paph. hainanense
Paph. lawrenceanum 'Graue' BM/DOG
Paph. mastersianum
Paph. purpuratum
Paph. robinsonii
Paph. schoseri
Paph. sukhakulii 'Graue'
Paph. superbiens
Paph. superbiens var. curtisii
Paph. tonsum var. cupreum
Paph. urbanianum x sib ('Shine and Glory' x 'Rainbow')
Paph. urbanianum
Paph. venustum
Paph. violascens
Paph. wardii 'Darkwing' x self


Paph. fairrieanum 'Dawlish Warren' x self
Paph. helenae
Paph. gratrixianum
Paph. henryanum
Paph. villosum
Paph. villsoum, new type from China


Paph. gardineri x sib 'Red Star' x 'Red Dragon'
Paph. lowii
Paph. roebelenii
Paph. roebelenii 'Kellerkind'
Paph. rothschildianum 'Big Garden' x 'Lark' FCC/AOS
Paph. rothschildianum x sib 'Jim Crull' FCC/AOS x 'Canadian Club' GM/JOGA
Paph. rothschildianum 'Mont Miliais' x self (although I seriously doubt that)
Paph. rothschildianum x sib 'Oriental Red' x 'Mont Miliais' FCC/AOS
Paph. rothschildianum 'Starship' x self


Paph. delenatii var. vinicolor x sib ('Purple Lantern' x Purple Delight')
Paph. malipoense 'Giant' x self


Paph. Ashburtoniae (barbatum x insigne)
Paph. Delrosi (rothschildianum x delenatii var. vinicolor)
Paph. Maudiae (callosum x lawrenceanum) Vinicolor 'Schwarze Madonna'
Paph. Michael Koopowitz (philippinense x sanderianum)
Paph. Pandion (venustum x fairrieanum)
Paph. Prine Edward of York (rothschildianum x sanderianum)


Paph. Clair de Lune 'Edgard van Belle' FCC/AOS


Paph. Vinicolor 'Black Jack'

[NYCorchidman]

It looks fine and normal to me, at least the part of plant I can see in your photo.

There is a new root pushing out, which is a good thing. I would keep it covered by the way. New roots tend to dry up and stop growing if exposed and dry. You don't want that to happen because I find that many paphs do not readily grow many roots, so whatever you get is precious!

As roots get older, they can look really dark brown and you might think they are bad. but often, they are very much alive and normal. Unless they are VERY soft and mushy, they are alive. Leave them as they are.

Check your potting medium. Take one or two piece and squeeze them. If too soft, then probably it is a good idea to repot. if not, you can leave them.

As for potting medium, anything that drains well but maintains moisture well is great for paphs.
Moss or seedling (or even mixture of both) mix would be ideal. So you don't need to shop for different mix.

The old leaves usually turn yellow, brown and then dry up, or just brown and dry up. As with the case of many other plants or orchids, the oldest one, the bottom most ones, go through this first but the order sometimes do not follow the rule, which can be normal or not normal.

As long as you don't see some odd spotty areas that spread over the leaves, you don't need to worry.
Aging leaves gradually turn yellow or brown. Spotting that occur once this yellowing or browning process is well underway can happen and maybe normal. As leaves are pretty much spent and dead, opportunistic fungi take over the leaves. They are not pathogenic.

Good luck with your new and very first paph.
I love venustum.

---------- Post added at 01:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:48 PM ----------

Your last picture shows that your paph is healthy. growing new leaves and all.

and you really want to stop digging and checking for roots. It really is not good for the growing roots.
Now that you know all is well, you can just leave it as is and it will grow and before you know it, you will be rewarded with a wonderful brain pouch! lol

[Rowangreen]

I was sure I'd posted a reply! Must have clicked the wrong button.

NYC: Most of this is an old thread...

Mutant: you may have more paphs than me, but I think I have more genuses!

And I think I've said this before: I'd trust the label on your 'Mont Miliais' x self much more than the one on your 'Schwarze Madonna'! The first is indicating a plant grown from seed, of which there could have been thousands. The second indicates a clone, and since you can't clone paphs the only way to that would be to do divisions. There are just too many 'Schwarze Madonna's on sale too cheap with too many different ilustrating pictures for them to all be one clone... I think that's a trade name. Should still be nice though!