Bud Watch - purpuratum!

[NYCorchidman]

Oh, wow~ You went through quite a bit sounds like.
I hope the struggling ones survive for you.

I have lost one paph to a mystery rot. I quite liked the plant, so the sudden rot breakout was very disappointing. It hit right at the center of the plant and I couldn't do anything to help it but toss it.

Then my favorite dark vini, which happens to be a super slow grower, is also suffering mystery rot on the leaves. I feel bad because it only has one new growth. It has been one new leaf, then rot spot, then I trim the leaf off. It has grown about 4 leaves and only has one full leaf that hasn't shown any rot.
so it looks quite troubled but I loved the flower so much that I am still holding on to the plant.

Spicerianum&Stone Lovely hybrid with multiple growths, has two of its growths hit by brown spotting rots. I sprayed with sulfur and it seems to have arrested any further spread.

Last one on my "sick" paph list is my beautiful Green Complex (and the only complex that flowers for me) of Stone Lovely, Pacific Shamrock and Henryanum.
It has been doing fine for me in the past two years but this year, I repotted into a coconut peat. and the new growth is not progressing any further since about two months ago, so I'm guessing the roots are gone.
I should have checked earlier but maybe too late. I should maybe take a look right now. I'm too scared what I may face.
I should try your terrarium method.
What do you exactly do with it? I mean what is the set up?

All my other paphs, which there are quite a few, haha, are all doing well as they should.

Thanks in advance!

[The Mutant]

Yup, but not as much as my poor Paphs!

Hmm... Sounds like some water might have gotten into the crown on the one you lost. I lost one of my Phals now this winter due to crown rot.

Ah, that rot... I recognize it because my friend had a stubborn outburst of it among her Phals, but it seems to be gone now. She has had to trim almost all the the leaves on the one that was the most afflicted, I think it only has one or two whole leaves left (out of ten or something). If I remember correctly, it's a bacterial rot that likes humid conditions, so to stop it from spreading, she stopped misting/spraying the afflicted Phals, and that seems to have done the trick. Well, besides that she cut off the infected parts, and treated the cuts with cinnamon. You could also try adding some bleach into the water (about 1% of it), 'cause apparently the Paphs don't take any harm from it and it kills the bacteria. Or keep treating it/them with sulfur, since it seems to work.

My advice to you about the Paph that's not doing anything; leave it. The biggest issue I've had, is that I've not left the Paphs alone and stressed them out, causing them to loose their roots. Let it stay in the pot, as long as it doesn't get multiple yellow leaves or starts to look depressed, just let it be. Sometimes they can sulk after being repotted, and not do a thing for several months. My MK did this during the entire winter because I disturbed it too much, it has started to grow NOW, but has done nada for at least six months.

I use the terrarium for those that have no roots and are suffering because of it. I have a 12V computer fan on 24/7 and I have the bottom covered with bark that I keep moist. Also, there's a heating pad, which keeps the temperature around 30*C. The humidity levels are between 90-100%, so even if they are rootless, they get enough moisture via the leaves to stay alive. I revived my biggest roth using this method, and I hope it'll work in my roebelenii. Oh, and the light levels are around or a bit lower than Phal light.

The reason I wrote "those that have no roots and are suffering", is because I discovered during repot time, that one of my Paphs didn't have a viable root system, at all, and hasn't had one for over a year, but it has now started making a new growth, and from that one there's a new root emerging. So, it seems some Paphs doesn't need that many roots to survive, while others need monstrous root systems to even be able to stay upright. At least under my conditions.

	Mistking Looking for a misting system? Look no further. Automated misting systems from MistKing are used by multitude of plant enthusiasts and are perfect for Orchids. Systems feature run dry pumps, ZipDrip valve, adjustable black nozzles, per second control! Automatically mist one growing shelf or a greenhouse full of Orchids. See MistKing testimonials

[NYCorchidman]

Thanks for the reply.

It is strange because I take great care not to get any water on the crown and if water does get in the center, I use tissue paper to wick it all out. well, as much as I can.

It is very interesting to hear about your paph with no roots staying alive for one year and then making a new growth.

My green complex that I worry about is one of those that does not grow many roots. I think I saw about three or four short roots last time I repotted.
It is just that the new growth has come to a complete stop and that worries me as it has never done that.

Yeah, I have some paphs that just love to grow those brown hairy roots and wrap around and around the inner surface of the pot. It makes repotting all the more fun (sarcasm) lol

[The Mutant]

This is how far my good little purpuratum has gotten now:



It's stretching towards the light, but I can't place it anywhere so that the spike might grow more upright. Oh well, as long as it blooms, I'm alright with it not having a straight spike.

[The Orchid Boy]

A beautiful bud! I "think" if you let the spike growblike that, you "may be able to stake it andvstraighten it once it's done growing. Don't break it though!

[The Mutant]

Originally Posted by The Orchid Boy

A beautiful bud! I "think" if you let the spike growblike that, you "may be able to stake it andvstraighten it once it's done growing. Don't break it though!

I'll tell it you said so, it might blush.

Nah, I think I'll leave it as it is. I'm not going to have it judged or anything, and for me, it can grow however it likes.

[NYCorchidman]

That is what I did for some of my paphs that flowered in my new apartment.
When they were sitting by northern (unobstructed so super bright) window in my old place, all the spikes grew straight up without help.

With stronger light here now, almost all spikes lean toward the window like yours is doing now.
I do what the other member said.
I let them grow all the way and when they start to open, I stake them up straight.
If you leave them, the leaning may get even worse with the weight of the open flower itself.
but that's up to you.
I personally like my paph flowers stand up straight and look at me.

Enjoy~

The bud is looking pretty now with the white portion showing up with dark stripes making nice contrast.

[MysticOrchid]

Post a picture when it blooms!! It will be a beauty shock

[The Mutant]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

That is what I did for some of my paphs that flowered in my new apartment.
When they were sitting by northern (unobstructed so super bright) window in my old place, all the spikes grew straight up without help.

With stronger light here now, almost all spikes lean toward the window like yours is doing now.
I do what the other member said.
I let them grow all the way and when they start to open, I stake them up straight.
If you leave them, the leaning may get even worse with the weight of the open flower itself.
but that's up to you.
I personally like my paph flowers stand up straight and look at me.

Enjoy~

The bud is looking pretty now with the white portion showing up with dark stripes making nice contrast.

Mine have a bad tendency of trying to grow up into the lamps... Unfortunately, I have to keep this guy away from the lamp, since there's no room for it there.

The white portion is the dorsal, and it's going to get whiter and have wine coloured stripes. This is one of the reasons why I like purpuratum so much, the contrast between the dark pouch and the bright dorsal.

[The Mutant]

I'm kind of down in the dumps at the moment, since it seems most of my Paphs (and Phals, but the don't show it as much) are suffering from malnutrition. I'm trying to figure out what it is they are lacking (the experts do not agree, but it stands between urea/ammonia and Mg...) and hopefully I'll be able to correct before any of my multi babies dies (these are the ones suffering the most). I feel like a crappy orchid owner right now...

Also, I've killed my first Paph now, my barbatum var- nigtitum gave up on me, and went to the great compost heap in heaven.

Luckily, my purpuratum is still working on its spike/bud, and disregarding everything that's going on around it: