Should I repot paphs in s/h?

[caseydoll]

I have read a lot of posts about paphs in s/h but I want some opinions to help me. I have 2 new paphs that have just finished up blooming. I am going to repot but can't decide what to repot them in. I have a big new box full of s/h stuff from Ray and have been repotting a few of my phals in it that have new root growth. Paphs are fairly new to me and seem so delicate! I definately don't want anything to happen to them since my boyfriend bought them for me. Should I go for it? I just need some advice to help make up my mind! Thanks so much...

Sarah

[cb977]

Hi Sarah
I don't actually follow the S/H system but I do grow all the 'chids (except the vandas) in aliflor. I fought against putting the paphs in it for a long time, kept them in paph mix and didn't really see anything spectacular happening. Decided to take a chance and moved one or two into the aliflor and they loved it...they are now all in it and doing great! Nice roots and new growths happening all over the place!

You'll get answers from the real paph growers and S/H people but I thought I'd give you my 2 cents

[Lagoon]

Hi Sarah,

First lemmie just say ... I don't grow anything in S/H.
I grow my paps in a peat mix. If indeed I wanted to try out something new - I would try out 1 paph and or 1 phal. I woudn't transfer all or risk much until I knew I could grow well in the newer media.

Supt' to you

[dennis]

you will find some like it and some do not. what kind do you have my maudies love it

[Heather]

I grow multifloral paphs. My paph roots have declined since being in S/H (primeagra) since 5/06.

I'm planning on switching them out.

[Marco]

i wouldn't suggest it unless you're willing to gamble. I have heard of people having success with it. Although I can't say my experience was similar. All but 2 of my paphs are in a chc mix.

[Ray]

Once again I have to state: "S/H does NOT define your total culture."

I find my paphs growing like weeds in semi-hydroponics, Heather's are declining. I know full well she's an excellent grower, but that suggests that there is something about her culture that doesn't fit right with paphs and s/h.

I would speculate that it's a nutrition issue, but who knows?

[caseydoll]

Thanks for your replies! The paphs that I have are Paph callosum 'v-10' x Paph. Hsinyling Viny "Flame Queen' and Paph. Hsinying Majukun 'Dennis Choice' x Paph. lawrenceanum 'Tradition'. I also have Paph. Barbilight (?). All those are exactly what the tag says. I may try the paph barbilght in s/h because I got that one for cheap. Although I don't enjoy killing anything and i'm not sure if it's growing any new roots until I go to repot it. Nothing visible just by peering at it. I guess i'm more worried because i don't have the same confidence with them that I do my phals. Phals love me.

Sarah

[Oscarman]

I have the following plants in s/h according to Ray's system and they are all doing really great. Many have made substantial growth since the move. I even have a compot of paph seedlings in it!

As we all know what works for one grower does not neccessarily always work for another grower. Why should it, do you grow exactly like me? No.

Paph. Hsinying Viny (Pulsar x Ruby Leopard)
Paph. Hatsue Otsuka
(Golddollar 'Mallingham Gold' x rothschildianum 'Rex' FCC/AOS)
Paph. Deena Nicol
Paph. concolor x sib ('Jeanie' x 'Dudley Ott' AM/AOS)
Phrag. Cape Sunset (Eric Young 'Rocket Fire' 4N x Schimii)
Phrag. Grouville 4N (Eric Young 'Rocket Fire' 4N x Hanne Popow 4N)
Phrag. Maria Glanz (wallisii x besseae)

[mojomick]

I have about 25 paphs and phrags all in Prime Agra and doing great. I have almost all my plants in LECA and use the Michigan State Univ. fertilizer for tap water. My plants seems to love it. So far I have had no deaths but one Miltonopsis did not like it. My phals and paphs and phrags grow roots like crazy and several are in bloom right now. I also have a cochleanthes amazonica that has bloomed 5 times in 8 months since transfer into Prime Agra. Mojomick