Paph bulldog leaf question

[Ashleyma23]

My Phah leaf is limping over. Is this normal or what could be wrong. Thanks

[jmmehler]

Are you sure that it's a phal?

[Bud]

These particular Paphiopedilum hybrids are colloquially known as "bulldog Paphs" on account of their broad-faced flowers and drooping petals. Among the most famous of the bulldogs is Paphiopedilum Winston Churchill

These orchid hybrids enjoy more subdued light; a more moisture retentive medium, and frequent watering than most orchids.
Some species can survive under water by the side of overflowing rivers on rainy season.

[Ashleyma23]

Originally Posted by jmmehler

Are you sure that it's a phal?

It's a phah.

---------- Post added at 05:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:11 PM ----------

I have been watering it more frequently. I repot it when I brought it home in bloom due to being in a pot with the bottom drainage. It originally bark and spag moss on top. It has potted up higher with spag moss then what I left it with. Is this why? The orchid looks healthy otherwise.

[WhiteRabbit]

I thought strap leaf Paphs like brighter light ? I grow mine in a window with Dens and Neostylis, and allow the media to approach dry before watering ... Roots have done much better for me since I started to let the media get a bit drier ...

[Ashleyma23]

I see why it was potted originally in a ceramic with the bottom drainage as charcoal and a few chunks of bark were at the roots /top tightly packed with lots of moss.

I repot it in the same medium and less spag moss in a plastic pot with lots of holes and water at the bottom for humidity.

I placed it for about a week in my bathroom with indirect light. - results drooping leaf

Today I took it out of the pot .No roots were soggy all were hard. The medium was dry. I repot it in with mix of bark, charcoal and sphagnum moss mixed in this time ,in a clear plastic pot. I placed in into a teracotta pot with rocks under the plastic pot. Then a a plate with water for humidity.

Since I placed it into a clear pot I can see if it need watering.

The oldest leaf has a slight yellowing effect.

I also think it has a basal growth because it split the oldest leaf.

I hope it grows new roots soon or I will be paranoid

[NYCorchidman]

Not necessarily.
The whole strap leaf thing is just confusing to people.
Strap leaf is usually meant for multifloral paph, which are generally grown with quite a bit of light.
Bulldogs can be grown with that light ( I do) but can also be grown slightly less.

Now, regarding the way your paph leaves look, do you feel the leaf is firm to touch? If yes, then there's nothing to worry about.
Many bulldog paphs have theses dangly long leaves that are rather unsightly.
Some stay slight upward, but many stay nearly horizontal or arch down. Then there are many whose leaves are hanging down like yours.
So feel the leaf and see if they are hard.
As long as they are hard, it's fine.

Also, did this plant come looking this or were the leaves more upright? Always make a mental note regarding how your plant looked when first acquired and aim to keep them that way.

[Ashleyma23]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

Not necessarily.
The whole strap leaf thing is just confusing to people.
Strap leaf is usually meant for multifloral paph, which are generally grown with quite a bit of light.
Bulldogs can be grown with that light ( I do) but can also be grown slightly less.

Now, regarding the way your paph leaves look, do you feel the leaf is firm to touch? If yes, then there's nothing to worry about.

Many bulldog paphs have theses dangly long leaves that are rather unsightly.
Some stay slight upward, but many stay nearly horizontal or arch down. Then there are many whose leaves are hanging down like yours.
So feel the leaf and see if they are hard.
As long as they are hard, it's fine.

Also, did this plant come looking this or were the leaves more upright? Always make a mental note regarding how your plant looked when first acquired and aim to keep them that way.

Yes it's hard to the touch. The leaves look veiny maybe due to lack of moisture ? But still firm.
It was upright like the rest of them.

[NYCorchidman]

How do the leaves feel to touch? The droopy ones of course.

[Ashleyma23]

Yes firm but maybe lacking mositure