Paphiopedilum - wart grow on stem
 

Hello,

I have one Paphiopedilum, I believe its a Maudiae type, has warts on the stem. i have two seedlings from the same plant and they somewhat do the same. Is that a disease or somewhat normal? I haven't seen this on any of my other Paphs before.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e1815490_b.jpg

Thanks!

The growth you describe these on is a very "leggy" growth. The so-called warts are its attempt at growing roots, but there is not substrate for them to grow into. Leggyness can be the result of not enought light, too much fertilizer or just plan genetics of the plant.

Thanks a lot! I have to admit, I had my issues with Paphs before. Since I set up LED and better growth conditions they look awesome and do much better than before. Your explanation makes perfectly sense.
I guess the main question now is, is this plant damaged for good or will it bloom again? I'm not saying I trash her but if it most likely will have a long term defect I may donate this one.
thanks

If you’ve corrected the light issue, subsequent new growths should be normal (unless it is genetic).

This tall growth will stay like this and may never bloom, but if conditions are better new growth should grow a more typical fan of leaves and bloom normally. Some Maudiae types are prone to this. The growth pattern may be an adaptation that lets a plant grow out of rapidly accumulating leaf litter. Give the plant good light and air movement, without crowding, and it should respond better.

The tall growth with root initials gives you a chance to propagate the plant if you want to. Just treat it as a stem cutting.

sterilized cut and than loosely planting in fern needle would be my approach. Is that OK?

Maybe I'm way off base here, and I expect the more experienced members to correct me if I'm wrong, but why not just wrap some sphagnum around the stem covering those root nodes? If they produce roots you can then cut and pot it up.

Well, I made some better pictures to make sure you guys understand I'm not torturing my plants :rofl:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...6ac358ef_b.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a7df44c2_b.jpg


https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7d5a776f_b.jpg

As mentioned, doesnt look unhappy. I was just worried bc I have had some spider mites and some brown scale on some different once that this here is not related. If someone now could advise me on what to do in terms of propagating, that would be awesome.

thx!

That should be fine, but really you could just pot it up with your regular mix, whatever it is. It already has roots started. It won't take long. Just give it a little extra humidity until it is established. Then you don't have to disturb it again to put it in a permanent pot.

---------- Post added at 12:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:15 PM ----------

Not way off base. That would work, of course, but it isn't necessary. It's not a matter of "if". We can see it has roots started, just waiting to grow. I think the fastest course to an established plant is snip and pot, just a little extra humidity until it is established. Others might recommend a more conservative plan, but in my experience it just isn't necessary.

"If" might come into play for when and at which node it might initiate new growth, but it won't do that at one of the exposed nodes until it is on its own.