odd paph behavior - Orchid Board

cowboy51278 · #1 03-11-2008, 04:39 PM

I started growing paphs a little over a year ago and have had some really good success with them. Well, at a local orchid greenhouse last summer I found a little Paph maudie that was in trouble and the owner let me take her home and see what I could do with her. I unpotted her to find only one viable root left. So after some TLC she started to make a come back and sent out some new healthy roots and put up some new growth. However its not like any growth I've ever seen on any of my other Paphs, or orchids for that matter. One leaf came out totally vertical and then was followed by a second. This started in October and there hasn't been any more growth since the first part of December. There haven't been any more leaves, just a continues vertical lengthening of the origional 2. Anyone have any ideas or has anyone seen this before?

Royal · #2 03-11-2008, 04:55 PM

Looks happier with you. What kind of light? Any crazy plant hormone type of products like superthrive?

The way my Paphs normally do, I'd be happy if mine where doing that!

cowboy51278 · #3 03-11-2008, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoyalOrchids

Looks happier with you. What kind of light? Any crazy plant hormone type of products like superthrive?

The way my Paphs normally do, I'd be happy if mine where doing that!

Its in low light, probably around 1200-1400 FC. Haven't pulled the meter out recently. All the other paphs that are with it seem to be doing fine. Lots of "normal" new growth. Many are in spike and about 5 are blooming. This is the oddball. I don't use superthrive or KLN (which is the other one I think). Distilled water, and MSU fertilizer for distilled.

Royal · #4 03-11-2008, 05:13 PM

Well, I guess I'm not much help. If you have 5 in bloom, I am in no place to advise you! I pretty much just keep mine alive. Any direct sun at all?

It could be that it is just an oddball as you say. Genetic issues can present themselves in strange ways - some good, some bad, some just weird.

cowboy51278 · #5 03-11-2008, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoyalOrchids

Well, I guess I'm not much help. If you have 5 in bloom, I am in no place to advise you! I pretty much just keep mine alive. Any direct sun at all?

It could be that it is just an oddball as you say. Genetic issues can present themselves in strange ways - some good, some bad, some just weird.

nope, everything I have is pretty much under lights. My house has porches on every side that blacks almost all the sun downstairs. So my plants get clumped together by a couple windows upstairs but no orchids seeing as how the humidity upstairs runs about 25%.

Mahon · #6 03-11-2008, 08:06 PM

Typically, Section Barbata will do this to you. It is a normal growth, which looks like it will be larger than the previous growth. This is more frequent with my Paph. sangii and Paph. tonsum... good growing and a wonderful recovery!

-Pat

Ross · #7 03-11-2008, 08:39 PM

I was just going to suggest the same as Pat. It looks very nice to me and you may see a spike or two once the growth(s) mature. Often the fan you are seeing will be closely followed by another. It may catch up and yield another spike (1 per fan). Good going - nice job.