armeniacum in basket

[weederwoman]

A year ago I planted my paph armeniacum in a basket following a post with photos I saw on slippertalk forum. If it ever gets filled with growths coming out every which way like in the photo, it should be impossible to repot. Options - don't ever repot or use some hydroponic pellet stuff? Right now it is small enough to repot, so its a good time to choose a media for the (I hope) future. Thanks

[jeremyinsf]

Can we see a picture please? I just got a 14 growth plant and am deciding what to do with it myself.

[gnathaniel]

Hi weederwoman, I've been putting most of my Parvisepalum Paphs, including armeniacum, into baskets or net pots and they do seem to like it.

For wooden baskets, I put a little coconut fiber in the bottom to hold in the mix, put in the plant, and fill in around the roots with a mix of about 3 parts dolomitic limestone gravel, 2 parts stalite (expanded shale/slate, pretty similar to lava rock or LECA), and 1 part Orchiata bark, all mostly in 1/2-3/4" particle sizes. I sprinkle a little shredded sphagnum and some live mosses (Polytrichum, Thuidium, and Hypnum species work well for me) over the top and usually stuff more mosses between some of the side slats.

Procedure in a net pot, or wire basket for bigger/multi-growth plants, is pretty similar; for smaller net pots I usually mix a little of the moss combo throughout the other media as I go and top-dress with a little more, whereas large wire baskets and net pots only get moss on top b/c otherwise they stay too wet.

Most of the Parvis are said to naturally grow in mossy humus pockets on limestone slopes and I think this method somewhat approximates those root conditions. I hope it'll also maintain stable pH over time and, being primarily mineral, last for many years. So far I haven't seen any explosions of top-growth on last year's basket converts, but the roots seem much more vigorous and durable than I can achieve in pots.

Jeremy, the obvious solution to your quandary is to send your plant to me, or 2-3 growths of it anyway. Seriously, though, where'd you pick up a 14-growth armeniacum and which arm did it cost you? I'm amazed at how scarce and expensive this species still is, especially since CITES records suggest that tens of thousands of plants have been imported to the US since the late 80s and I know there's also been some domestic breeding during that time.

[The Orchid Boy]

I'm also interested (approximately) the cost of the armeniacum. And what vendor? PM if you'd prefer.

I'm planning on getting a micranthum & armeniacum at our winter/spring show. I already have 2 wooden baskets for them. I'll either use straight sphagnum or line the basket with sphagnum and use a bark mix. Maybe I'll try 1 in each.

[weederwoman]

The link for the photo is:
(Paphiopedilum armeniacum basket culture success story - Slippertalk Orchid Forum- The best slipper orchid forum for paph, phrag and other lady slipper orchid discussion!)

gnathaniel, do you ever plan to repot? Do you worry about the orchidata rotting and causing problems in the long run? I am thinking of a wire basket with thin coconut mat lining. My home well water has calcium and magnesium, and I was going to alternate it with the "good" water I have at the greenhouse, both on the armeniacum and on a niveum I have.

[gnathaniel]

Originally Posted by weederwoman

gnathaniel, do you ever plan to repot? Do you worry about the orchidata rotting and causing problems in the long run? I am thinking of a wire basket with thin coconut mat lining. My home well water has calcium and magnesium, and I was going to alternate it with the "good" water I have at the greenhouse, both on the armeniacum and on a niveum I have.

I do think the orchiata will rot but I don't anticipate that causing problems, it's a pretty minor component of the mix and roots should stay well-aerated in any case. I also think that as long as there's a healthy microbial community the decomposing bark will be an asset rather than a liability to the plants.

I don't have a particular plan for repotting, but since the bulk of the mix won't decompose I don't intend to move plants unless they seem to be doing poorly. Plants in smaller net pots are the exception since most will outgrow their pots in a year or two, but net pots are easy to remove or modify with scissors so I'll likely just 'pot on' into a wood basket or something.

You could mix your well water with greenhouse water, extra Ca and Mg should be very good for armeniacum as long as the water's not too hard overall.

[jeremyinsf]

I've been very fortunate to find some amazing specimen plants this year. Including this one. Pic below, along with the Dollgoldi I got. I'm just now developing relationships with the vendors so until I have their OK, I probably don't want to get into prices and stuff on these. They were, of course, expensive, and 'one of a kind'. It's very obvious to me on both that they haven't been re-potted in a long time, and might be doing well because of that, but also probably really need it. I'm very, very afraid - on both of them. I have no problem pulling any of the other plants but these two - it's like looking at a really old bonsai tree that's been around longer than your grandfather, and knowing how daunting it will be to re-pot it, even though the tree will really appreciate it.

Having said that - I think the reason armeniacum are expensive and rare, is that most people... kill them! And I don't want to be one of those people. (Let's not forget super slow growing anyway)

The armeniacum was sold to me as a "I think it has 7 or 8 growths" but when I got it and counted all of them, there are 14. I'm counting immature ones too, but ones that are at least a 'fan'. 10 are fully mature.

The Dollgoldi - The plant is 23.5" across. I don't even know how many growths.

Both are in flower or in bud now, so I'm trying to do my research and talk to as many people as possible... then I will hopefully make good decisions when it's time to do something in a couple months.

I can't imagine using Sphag moss exclusively. Orchiata can last 5 or 10 years so I'd be OK with that, or a mix, I should say. I like the link to the other basket, and after four years, that plant has clearly thrived. I grow under T5HO lights which will be GREAT for both these chids, but I'm limited with space so I'm trying to figure out what all a basket would mean for me. I've never used one for other plants. I talked to another user on here with one in a basket, also does not do winter rest, plant is doing great and blooms regularly.

Nat, everything you said made a lot of sense. I don't have other Parvi's so, I might pick your brain once in a while if you don't mind. What would it take to get some of your mix from you? And don't say half my plant haha

Weeder - how has your plant done the last year? I guess I'm wondering, why are you asking this question now?

Anyway, that's my deal. Really appreciate y'all and this (among other) discussion on here. It's wonderful we can learn from each other and share ideas.

[weederwoman]

My plant has one new growth developing (about 3" from the original growth). I just didn't think out the repotting problems when I first potted it up in a fir/shredded spag/perlite mix. All my other slippers are up for repotting soon, so its been on my mind. I'm just a novice grower, so I won't be a good example of what to do.

[gnathaniel]

Originally Posted by weederwoman

My plant has one new growth developing (about 3" from the original growth).

Sounds like a happy plant! Be careful with the stolons when repotting, they seem pretty tough once they start making leaves but there might be others under the surface that are more tender. If you like the container it's in you could just dump out most of the old media and fill in with new to minimize root and stolon disturbance. Sounds like maybe you could teach us something about growing armeniacum, mine doesn't do much of anything...

Originally Posted by jeremyinsf

Nat, any way we could see some photos of your plants in baskets and net pots etc? Thanks!

I'll see what I can do but no guarantee it'll be anytime soon, I've been too busy lately to even photograph most of my blooming plants. Of course, part of that is that I get (well-deserved) dirty looks when I go fiddle with plants instead of doing my homework or the dishes or various other pressing tasks...

Awesome plants, BTW! You really scored on those, that's a pretty fantastic connection you've got. Whatever the bloom quality ends up being, vigor alone makes those clones well worth growing IMHO. Please keep me in mind if you ever take divisions from either.

If you're nervous about repotting those behemoths (I would be, too!) I'd suggest putting up a post on Slippertalk, there are plenty of good Paph growers here on OB but ST has a higher concentration and you'll get numerous experienced opinions, plus everyone will enjoy ogling your acquisitions. In addition to JPMC's armeniacum threads on Slippertalk, also check out Rick's on basket culture and Bjorn's on growing Parvis in marble/limestone, much of my current approach derives from their methods.

I'll PM you re: your mix request, I'm sure we can work something out.

[jeremyinsf]

New growth is progress!!!!! I'm not a pro either, I think we are all learning as we go along.