Stake a paphi
 

Hi everyone,
Is it OK to stake a paph on its base like this to help it growing straight up?
Thanks.

It would probably be better to plant it deeper in the pot. You want the bottom most leaves just above the surface of the media.

Bill

To me, it looks to be potted just fine, but I'm not sure why you'd even need to do that, as they tend to grow upward anyway. If they are not, they may be leaning toward a light source or something, so staking like that might lead to odd, zig-zag growth.

I'm not very experienced so the following input isn't worth very much.
The wobbly Paph I have was stabilized by placing two chopsticks (like what you used except I cut them to be shorter) close to the plant on two sides. I was able to avoid the roots despite being so close and the plant is very stable this way.

Naturalist -- I do that all the time. Works great on tiny seedlings. ROBB

Thanks everyone! I wasn't sure where I placed the tie on the plant is too close to the roots to "hurt" it. But yes without it the whole plant fall "forward".

You mean like this? Works great on repotting, too!
https://i.postimg.cc/VvBCz2wb/20211214-113622.jpg

That's good to know because I intentionally "lift" the leaves up. I thought they needed the space to breath better... Silly me

Ha! Thanks ROBB and Dusty. It's good to see more experienced orchid growers do this too.

I do my best to pot them upright, then I don't worry about it again. They grow however they wish.

What if the spike fall forward because of the plant?
Also, how do you stake the flower on paphi?

Sorry, I didn't see the flower when first viewing on my phone. When the spike is emerging, like now, gently push a narrow but sturdy stake into the medium, to the bottom of the pot. As the spike emerges very gently and loosely tie it to the stake. You can tighten it later when it is longer and more flexible. The chopstick is too short and too far away for that bud. I save the stakes when I buy orchids in flower, disinfect them and re-use.

Note well what ES said about "loose". You want to guide the spike not strangle it. Paph spikes tend to straighten out as they develop, tall ones may just need a little support as the heavy bud develops. But again, it tends to straighten out (and face outward) anyway as it opens. You don't want to distort its natural presentation