Paph rot
 

:scratchhead: Hey folks, I really need help with this one. I bought some paphs a while now and they have been growing fine... up till now.

One in particular is proving difficult to grow. I bought this one and another from the same grower, potted in the same media and potted the same time and they were growing fine, but this particular one has been sending out new plants which just turn black and rot after just a few weeks of growing. :_(

What in the world is happening to it? :( The mother plant is healthy as ever.

A picture would be nice to see. Could be any number of reasons, old mix, cold and humidity,to much light?

Ok...let me see if I can get a pic to put up. I pulled out the dead new growth (not new anymore :_( ) but i'll check it to see what i find.

This is one of the bigger growths gone bad. It's from the same pot but the new growth came off of the leftmost plant.

Well from what I can see the mix looks very dense. My Paphs roots actually sit a inch or two above my mix. wich stay wet but still has room for air passage. I would try repotting and have the mix just below the rhizome and be sure to have it alittle more room for air to get to the roots. Also are them little round balls oscomte or some other kind of fertilizer. that could also be burning the growth,s. Paphs hate sour soil. I use my nose for when its ready to be repotted. if it smells sour and rancid it should be repotted. If it still smells like clean dirt then its good.

My thoughts as well bo...the tiny balls do look like osmocote or sorts. Paph's take a bit more care than other orchid types. You could say they are a bit prissy :coverlaugh: I would definitely repot your paph with putting in fresh mix you will see a difference within weeks.

could anyone tell me how to insert a picture in the reply,I dont understand the url thingy.
This way I can show you how i have my paphs actually alittle above the medium.

Ok...thanx guys. I'm gonna pot over them paphs tomorrow. So more air. Can you give me some pointers with regards as to what to use for the media?

The little balls are Nutricote, a slow release fertilizer, supposed to last 8 months.

Just click on "go to advance" and you will get a window with several edit tool. Just above the "text window" you will have a white smilie and next to it a Clip. Click on the clip to add pictures!

as for the Paph... I cannot give much advice as I am just recently starting with Paphs... but for what I have read, I agree with the suggestions regarding repotting the plants!

fine to medium bark, charcol, vermiculite,spahgnum,presoak mix for 24 hours. if you have any species of paphs be sure to see if they like having a calicum additive, such as oyster chips etc. my papheiopedlium micranthum, mailopense,venustum tipo, all have the cal, additive, as far as feeding your paphs I would go with a water based additive such as shultzs orchid food or any other at a 1/4 strength my papahs like to be fed weakly weekly.