Share Your Paph. fairrieanum Culture

[quiltergal]

Someone asked me about my Paph. fairrieanum culture on a different tread so I thought it would be nice if all of us who have fairrieanum could share how we are growing it. I've only had one for a year so am by no means an expert.

I purchased it last February from Dean at Paphiness as a single growth blooming plant. It is an Orchid Zone seedling, and so came in Orchiata. For me Orchiata dries out much too fast so I repotted it into small grade CHC, perlite and charcoal. I also went up a pot size from 2" seedling pot to a 3" square pot. It spent most of the early spring growing lots of roots. Once the plant had very nearly filled the pot with roots it started 2 new growths. The new growths grew very slowly up until recently. I was growing it in a more shaded area of my rack. After doing some research I discovered that it needs high light, 2000-3000 fcs. I moved it right next to the window and directly under a T5HO bulb a few weeks ago. I am now seeing new leaves starting to grow. That may be a coincidence but I don't think so. I have also read that fairries like a 6 week cool semi-dry rest period starting in December. I was doing that but quite unintentionally. I have also read that during the rest period you should suspend feeding, which I didn't do. I don't think my plant will flower again until next fall. It seems like both new growths are growing at about the same pace. I'm thinking it will take the plant longer to mature 2 new growths than it would 1. It doesn't have enough mass yet to support itself very well, but I think it's on it's way. So now you all know as much as I do which isn't a heck of a lot!

[jeremyinsf]

I have three fairries. I got two as small single growth seedlings from Lehua on 6.21.13. They were in very large bark, and I transferred them to my Orchiata mix (which is what I primarily use right now) and have kept them under my lights. They get regular k-lite as well as seaweed. I think the seaweed really helped them establish.

One of them is clearly the stronger of the two - It is now in full bloom and has a second growth coming in strong. The second plant has formed a sheath and will probably start to spike soon... at least I hope!

My 3rd plant I got from somewhere else, and bought it 'blindly' because it was in-spike and I wanted a plant from a different source. I also expected the other two to be very green, and this one more red. All my my assumptions were wrong. The 3rd plant has a much smaller flower and hasn't grown very cleanly. It's still nice, but I like the other better.

Per Terri's suggestions I will be giving all three of these more light in the future. I moved the last unbloomed one up this morning.

[phraggy]

Thankyou so much for the information Terri. I will try what you say and hopefully my fairrieanums will feel the benefits of your suggestions.

Ed