armeniacum in basket

[jeremyinsf]

That's not novice work, from my perspective. You are going to do fine with your armeniacum.

[jeremyinsf]

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

[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.

[weederwoman]

Nat
I've never worked with a more tender plant, orchid or non. The first time I moved it from the sellers pot to my basket, the new growth broke off. The new growth I have now is its replacement. This time when I moved it to a better basket, one of those deep buried stolons got damaged and fell off the next day. If the poor thing thrives I will never repot it again. I used expanded clay pellets and perlite (they didn't have lava rock) and small amounts of bark per your suggestion. Hope this doesn't scare you too much, Jeremy.

[jeremyinsf]

Originally Posted by weederwoman

Nat
I've never worked with a more tender plant, orchid or non. The first time I moved it from the sellers pot to my basket, the new growth broke off. The new growth I have now is its replacement. This time when I moved it to a better basket, one of those deep buried stolons got damaged and fell off the next day. If the poor thing thrives I will never repot it again. I used expanded clay pellets and perlite (they didn't have lava rock) and small amounts of bark per your suggestion. Hope this doesn't scare you too much, Jeremy.

Well, it does, and it doesn't. I (sort of) knew what I was getting into. I wanted a plant that was going to be a challenge, to a certain point. And this one is small (growth habit) and takes a lot of light, so that's good for me. I realize it's all a big experiment and I might really **** it up. Having said that, I think other paph's are really easy for me and I knew this one would be different, but, perhaps not this much. Stay tuned! And thanks for sharing your own experience. Can we see a picture?

[weederwoman]

I can take one but it won't mean much. Even though it has a tremendous will to live, it is just a tiny young one. I realized how young it was when I saw the size of the individuals in your clump. It was from a local seller who was going out of business and unloading all his stock. I got most slippers from him. This was by far the youngest of the lot. My kolosand looks physically big till you realize how large it has to get, and then you realize it is just a baby too. He kind of laughed when he told me it wouldn't bloom for quite a while. My phrag grande bloomed this year (I didn't get a picture). My Magic Lantern and Ruth Wright x primulinum paphs look near to blooming size to me. One month ago I bought a niveum hybrid from an orchid club member who is a grower. It was flowering, but I cut the flower off right away to get better growth. It somehow looked too young to support a flower and thrive at the same time. Its going to be another tricky one to keep happy, I think. Some day, if I'm successful with my armeniacum, I'd love to shell out the bucks for a dolgoldii.

Laurel

[jeremyinsf]

I'm cheering for!

Lots of light, that's my take at least. I think these slippers thrive when they get just a bit more light than they are 'supposed' to. And a good feeding regimen too!

[weederwoman]

I'll give it my best. Thanks