Bought my first Paphs today, QUESTION!

[Helen]

I bought my first paphs today, and one has a small seedling just sitting on the top which I think I should pot up on it's own. Should I use sphag or small bark?

Any tips on growing these would be greatly appreciated!

Paph. sukhakulii Giant x Dick (if anyone has a picture of this orchid or either of it's parents, I would love to see them)

Paph. Emerald (vini) (3rd place in Central Ontario Orchid Society) Picture of this one would be appreciated too!

Can's seem to find them on the internet anywhere.

Thanks
Helen

[Dorothy]

Here is Paph. sukhakulii (Giant x Dick) - http://www.vintageorchids.com/images...akulii%201.JPG
as per Vintage Orchids - http://www.vintageorchids.com/species.htm
I found this photo of Paph Emerald - Rene Theberge Photography { orchids gallery }
but seeing the (vini) at in it's title would lead me to believe that it has some very dark wine coloration to it.
Hopefully someone else can shed more light for you

[Helen]

Originally Posted by Dorothy

Here is Paph. sukhakulii (Giant x Dick) - http://www.vintageorchids.com/images...akulii%201.JPG
as per Vintage Orchids - Species
I found this photo of Paph Emerald - Rene Theberge Photography { orchids gallery }
but seeing the (vini) at in it's title would lead me to believe that it has some very dark wine coloration to it.
Hopefully someone else can shed more light for you

Thanks Dorothy! You ARE good! You must have a neat way of searching on the net....I tried for a long time and found nothing!

Any suggestions on what to use to pot my tiny Paph seedling?
thanks
Helen

[Dorothy]

I don't have any paphs but my phrags are going in LECA semi-hydroponically ...

[Helen]

Thanks Dorothy, maybe someone else can provide me with some tips as well.
I really appreciate you answering my post.
Helen

[quiltergal]

Helen, Paphs are sympodial so what you are probably seeing is the start of it's new growth for this year. Don't remove it. They aren't separate plants. When the plant gets larger with lots of fans you can divide it. Rule of thumb is 3-4 fans per division.

PS I love sukhakulii. Beautiful flower and it stays somewhat compact.

[Helen]

Originally Posted by quiltergal

Helen, Paphs are sympodial so what you are probably seeing is the start of it's new growth for this year. Don't remove it. They aren't separate plants. When the plant gets larger with lots of fans you can divide it. Rule of thumb is 3-4 fans per division.

PS I love sukhakulii. Beautiful flower and it stays somewhat compact.

Terry, actually it was separate....it had a little ball of sphag around it just sitting in the pot on top of the bark..and the other main plant has bark mix....it's funny, because the leaves are NOT mottled like the main one. Do the baby leaves start out as plain green and mottle later?
Thanks
Helen

[quiltergal]

Oh! You got a seedling surprise then didn't you! My Paphs are planted in fine bark or coco husk. I've never had much luck with sphag, but it works for some folks. I think it just depends on how much you like to water. Most Paphs don't like to dry out completely. Here is some good info on sukhakulii specifically.

Orchid of the Week Library: Paph. sukhakulii

I have two mottled leaf varieties and the new growth on both starts out mottled. You may have something completely different in that little sphag ball.

[Barbara]

Hi Helen. I would use fine grade fir bark mix for repotting the seedling and put it in a small (tiny) pot so that it's as root bound as possible. Keep a close eye on the moisture levels, it will probably mature a little faster if your grow it under moderately bright conditions (meaning avoid the direct sun). Btw, it might not be the same thing that it was growing with which may account for the different leaf colouration. Usually the seedling leaves of paphs are identical to their mature selves, at least according to my own experience thus far.

Vini does mean that it's a dark colour, but that can be effected by seedling variation and parentage. In other words you can't really know what it looks like until it blooms unless it's a division off a dark vini parent then it would be identical to the 'mother'.

I'll post a picture of my suk if it ever opens..sigh...

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Helen

Terry, actually it was separate....it had a little ball of sphag around it just sitting in the pot on top of the bark..and the other main plant has bark mix....it's funny, because the leaves are NOT mottled like the main one. Do the baby leaves start out as plain green and mottle later?
Thanks
Helen

Helen, I am knew to Paphs, but I have never seen a new growth start out plain then turn mottled. I only have 7 plants of both types (mottled and plain). It sounds like something escaped the packers' attention and one slipped through. I suspect you have (for now) a NOID Paph. In answer to your question, if it has good roots I would opt for a commercial Paph mix like sold at many of the Orchid Supply vendors on this board. They are based on fine bark, perlite or sponge roc, sphag, etc. Use a really small pot (deeper than normal) like 2" if the roots will fit.