Advice needed; best medium for Maudiae-type Paphiopedilum?

[Orchid Whisperer]

I have 2 Maudiae-type Paphiopedilums and one Maudiae (I think) x fairrieanum, I know it's time for a re-pot. I know these are not the highest maintenance type Paphs, but I do want to give them a pretty good potting base & encourage good roots. What I have on hand now is standard coarse fir bark (I can chop it finer to medium or fine, no problem); a little orchiata bark (medium and fine); a mix with bark, perlite and charcoal; and sphagnum (US, not New Zealand).

Need some advice from slipper growers; what medium would you suggest, do I need to but anything different or can I use what's on hand? I mostly use rain water on all of my plants, if that makes a difference. How long would you wait between re-potting now & the next re-pot (I have recently heard 6 months is a good target interval).

Suggestions appreciated - thanks!

[jeremyinsf]

Based on what you have, I would use Orchiata with 20% perlite and 10% charcoal. Just be sure you know how to properly water with it.

Six months seems like a bit on the 'soon' side for re-potting. In my opinion, there are three reasons to re-pot a Paph:
- Media has broken down
- Roots out-growing the pot
- Time to 'clear out' the old roots.

Orchiata lasts a really, really long time. So you will need to re-pot before that happens anyway. It's possible to get a massive amount of growth in six months, and if you do, re-pot! New growths of Paphs put out new roots, and old growths roots die off, and need to be cleared out. This is why many people will re-pot after a blooming cycle. I suggest you do it based on your assessment of the plant - not on a calendar.

Good luck and have fun!

[Orchid Whisperer]

Thanks Jeremy

It has been over a year since I re-potted these, soon after purchase. I am re-potting now because although they are growing, that growth is not exactly stellar. That could be because they started out as 1 or 2 fan plants, but I'm not sure. At very least, I want to have a good look at the roots and media down in the pot (it was extremely wet here last year, not sure what that might have done regarding media break down).

I appreciate the suggestions. I probably have enough orchiata for 2 of the 3 plants, the third I will likely re-pot with the proportions you suggested, but substitute regular bark for the orchiata.

---------- Post added at 01:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:16 PM ----------

Oh, follow-up. When you said just be sure you know how to water with it, can you explain?

I guess I need to see if I can find some perlite to add in, too.

[jeremyinsf]

I mean watering with an open, bark mix, vs. watering Sphag. Totally different requirements! And I just wasn't real sure if you were used to watering with bark mixes like that.

Also new bark takes a bit more water to be broken-in and really retain moisture.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Got it. I thought you meant orchiata in particular. Regular bark, I've been growing Catts, Phals, and others for about 30 years. (Didn't say I've grown WELL for that long, just growing for that long).

Paphs and Dendrobiums have unfortunately not fared well in my care. Still trying to learn.

Thanks!

[jeremyinsf]

You are welcome. Why do you think you have not done well with Paphs?

[Orchid Whisperer]

Most of my experience has been, shall we say "ancient history". I bought these three a little over a year ago, after not having any Paphs for at least a decade, but probably closer to 15 years.

A Paph hybrid was one of my first orchids, purchased in the early 1980s. I had a couple others (a P. concolor, and another hybrid) after that. Then graduate school, kids, work, etc., I think I was just not caring for them properly, and always, the roots eventually declined, fewer in number, not as healthy. Was it incorrect potting medium? Too much or too little water? Too much/too little fertilizer? Hard to say at this point. FWIW, the concolor seemed to fare the best, and lived the longest (I never had more than one bloom at a time,though).

I am trying to learn more this time around, with some plants I hope will eventually bloom and grow into multi-fan plants.