My first Paph!

[ewhite]

Hi all,

I got my first paph. It's a Venus Knight hybrid.

I did the wiggle test at the store and this one seemed to be well rooted. I got it home and took it out of the pot to look at the roots, and in fact, it has a lot of really healthy looking roots. I saw no root rot and although the roots didn't fill the pot, there were so many that I am wondering if it needs a larger pot.

The medium looked very, very old and stale. I found two millipedes (i think) among the roots, so I repotted it in fresh mix into the same pot. The medium it was in looked just like my Phaleanopsis mix, so that is what I used.

It has been six days since the repot and the leaves have lost some of their shiny beautiful luster. One lower leaf has turned yellow. I am worried that the medium is not moist enough. Later I read that Paph's need smaller medium. I want to try a mix I read about of coconut husk chips, charcoal, and volcanic rock. But I also read that CHC need to be soaked in calcium to deal with excess amounts of sodium.

I would welcome any advice on the care of my new paph. Do you think it needs a larger pot? (in the photo you can see that it is potted in a plastic pot sitting in a clay cache pot). Should I get it repotted into a paph mix asap or just water more frequently? Does anyone know of a mix that is readily available that is good?

Also, I have my paph under cfl lights.

[Dante1709]

Amazing photo ; the depth of field and detail are perfect and it's such a lovely orchid to start with!

Anyway, I think the yellowing of the leaves may be normal. Paphs usually lose a few lower leaves when flowering to make up for the energy spent, and since it's been repotted, it's now also working on the roots..

To make up for all of this activity (i.e. maintaining the blooms, adjusting to new media and to a new environment) it's losing leaves to gain more energy, rather than dropping the blooms.
Well, that's my theory.

Paphiopedilums tend to like media on the fine side, which Phalanoepsis usually don't. Personally I wouldn't risk putting the orchid into more stress, but it's up to you.

I think the pot it is in now is fine, also. Paphs tend to have smaller root systems than most orchids, since they are semi-terrestrial.

Just my 2 cents..Really, take it as 2 cents. I'm kind of a beginner as well but I've done my research.
Good growing and happy holidays!

[ewhite]

Thanks Dante!

I read that paphs had smaller roots, but these roots are just as large as any phal I've had, really robust looking. Perhaps that's why the grower had it in what looked like phal mix?? I certainly don't want to unnecessarily stress the plant further. I will try to adjust my watering, increasing the frequency, but am concerned about root rot. I have been known to over water phals.

---------- Post added at 10:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:46 AM ----------

I just found an excellent thread which discusses paph. mixes. Some really great advice here:

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...opedilums.html

[jeremyinsf]

Many Paph's can tolerate different kinds of media. Your growing conditions dictate what should be used.

Can you take a picture of the tag by chance? I think that plant might have come from Lehua, and if it did I can give you more of my experience.

[WhiteRabbit]

Paphs generally have fat (sometimes fuzzy) roots - but often fewer than many other orchids.

[Andre]

I have killed so many phals over the years due to overwatering... I grow many paphs some of which I have thick roots like Paph. malipoense that have fat and fuzzy roots, and some with wiry fuzzy roots. A good way to check when your plant needs watering is to put a bamboo skewer in the media... If it is soaking wet when you pull it out don't water yet. Let it dry a bit more and check again in a day or so. Most species like a lot of moisture, but will rot if kept too wet for too long. If you are heavy handed with your watering I would use an open mix. I have lost more paphs to overwatering than to under watering.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[ewhite]

Andre,

Thanks for the tips. I've read about the bamboo skewer technique but honestly I couldn't figure out how wet or dry it's supposed to look when it's time to water. The person at the greenhouse where I purchased it (not the grower) told me they only water their orchids once a week. But all their orchids looked totally parched to me except for the paphs which they had in a shadier area and they seemed quite happy. Obviously my home is a much drier environment, even with vicks vaporizers going.

Jeremy, that would be great if you knew more about this plant and could tell me about it's care requirements! I'll get a photo up of the tag later today.