Reporting Paphiopedilum

[aliceinwl]

So, I have a few Paphiopedilum that I think need repotting, but have questions.

I’ve heard that these “like” to be repotted annually regardless of substrate. True?

I have two I personally repotted last year from moss to orchiata that are growing new fans but not roots that I can see. Should I repot them too? These were a bit worse for ware on acquisition but look to be slowly recovering.

I have one I got in March in spike from an orchid show that just finished blooming. It has one fan and is kind of crawling out of the pot. The roots start almost an inch above the substrate. When I repot, should I leave it like this or bury it so the base of the roots are in the substrate?

Are there any cons with moving them from solid pots to clear?

My favorite/ first orchid is a Paphiopedilum that has never been repotted (it’s been doing so well I’ve been reluctant to mess with it), but the moss is starting to break down after 3 years. Will switching it over to bark set it back? This one has 3 old fans that have bloomed but this year is pushing two new ones rather than one. I prefer bark, but am willing to repot it into moss if that’s the best option.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

What kinds of Paphs are they? Different Paphs, different care.

[aliceinwl]

3 bulldog type: 1 that I got last year with poor root health that I repotted and is recovering, 1 Yi-Ying Fireworks x Enzan Kitty, and a similar one I lost the tag on :-(

1 P. leeanum

1 P. charlesworthii

4 variegated leaved Paphs (including the one climbing out of its pot, the one still in moss, 1 with poor root health I repotted last year, and one maybe getting ready to spike). These have labels but live at my office so no access at the moment.

The 2 with poor root systems were in really old moss and were grocery store buys. Outwardly they look pretty good now and were repotted a year ago so I’m wondering whether it’s better to just leave them alone.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I thought I'd mention this before I go on with whatever else I have to say on this subject...

You may have read this or heard of this before from someone else but I think its good to repeat to nail down the fundamentals of growing Paphs, most Paphs grow roots very slowly. Most generally don't grow a whole lot of roots per shoot. Some might, but the majority do not. When it comes to waiting for Paphs growing roots or recovering from damage, you must be very patient.

With that said...

I will also say that generally speaking, I don't recommend repotting Paphs too often. It can get a little dicey with some of them as to how well they can recover from this kind of treatment.

There is a caveat to the above mentioned advice, however...

That caveat is how badly decomposed the potting media is. If the potting media is badly decomposed, it can cause some problems with choking the roots out in a few ways. One way is through how much moisture the potting media is retaining. Another way is due to the organic particulate matter that accumulates choking out the roots, particularly if the root mass is not that big compared to the pot size. Regarding whether to repot due to potting media breaking down, my answer would have to be, yes, it is advisable to repot the Paph when the media is broken down pretty badly.

Why would something like the accumulation of organic particulate matter be of concern you ask?

Well, part of the issue is, (and I'm saying this not aware of whether you have been informed about the following), at least one of the Paphs you mentioned is not a true terrestrial. A good example is your Paphiopedilum charlesworthii. This particular species is actually a lithophyte with the roots growing in between the crevices of limestone boulders in moss or some humus. I advise being very careful about growing this particular Paph in full on moss because there could be too much water getting to the plant, particularly if the media is breaking down badly, and if the root mass is not that big.

The following is photographic evidence of the species Paph charlesworthii growing as a lithophyte with some information written about the photo. The photos are of the alba variant of the species.

Wild Orchids in Myanmar, Wild paphiopedilums in Myanmar.?????????????????????????????????????????? ???Paphiopedilum

I can also tell you that Paphiopedilum Leeanum is a primary hybrid where the cross is as follows: (Paphiopedilum insigne x Paphiopedilum spicerianum).

From what it looks like, the species Paph spicerianum is a semi-terrestrial that grows on limestone hills. Meaning, that the roots are buried under leaf litter, some loose bark, and a little bit of humus, but beneath that is limestone.

The following link does not really show a close-up shot of how Paph spicerianum is growing in the wild, but you can get a sense of it from the photos.

Reintroduction of an endangered terrestrial orchid, Paphiopedilum spicerianum----Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden,CAS

While the species Paph insigne grows more like how Paph charlesworthii does, with the roots growing in moss or humus in between limestone rock crevices.

The following photo shows Paph insigne growing as a lithophyte the clearest.

http://www.slipperorchids.info/paphd...e(insitu)8.jpg

The significance of mentioning the way that these Paphs grow is to understand that some air still needs to get to the roots in order for them to breathe and not rot out.

The Paph Yi-Ying Firework x Paph Enzan Kitty is too complex of a hybrid. But do enough research and you can find out its heritage, and then from there, you can determine what best suits it.

I want to also mention a common factor that you may already be seeing a pattern with...so far, the Paph species that have been discussed grow on some sort of limestone formation. Limestone is primarily calcium carbonate with a few other minerals mixed in it, (probably one of the other most abundant mineral in the limestone would be magnesium based on the dark grey color of the rocks the orchids are growing on). You can guess by now, that I am leading into the supplementation of calcium and some magnesium. These minerals get leached out during the rains and then the orchids absorb those minerals into their tissues to assist with the process of photosynthesis. So it may be a good idea, if you haven't already done so, to add a little bit of calcium and magnesium to your fertilization regimen.

I will also mention that pH matters even with plants. The point of pH mattering in respect to biology was brought up by a college professor during an anatomy class I tried to add by sitting in. The pH of moss is quite acidic, and when it breaks down, it becomes even more so. When organic materials such as bark start breaking down, the pH tends to acidify. The pH of limestone is more alkaline. Since there is more limestone than moss where these orchids are growing, it can be said that the pH is neither all that acidic nor all that alkaline. There is a nice happy range that is probably between 6.5 - 8.5 on the pH scale that these Paphs would do well in. pH is not a linear function, but rather it is a logarithmic function, and changes in pH are actually quite drastic. I am not saying that you have to be measuring the pH of the potting media all the time in order to get it right, on the contrary, it is not necessary to be obsessive about the pH of the potting medium, but do keep that in mind when you choose a potting media, and when you take care of your Paphs.

I have not experimented if there is a significant difference between how well a Paph grows in a clear plastic pot versus an opaque one, but I think I've heard or read the following...

If I'm not mistaken, there are some people who sow Paph seeds that mention the seedling's roots tend to have sensitivity to light. Therefore, many people who sow Paph seeds tend to use agar with charcoal in it so that the roots can grow in the medium without receiving too much light. You may have to ask a lab who has successfully sown Paph seeds whether this is true or not.

I personally have never used clear pots when growing Paphs, so I cannot advise on whether you are able to grow Paphs in clear pots or not.

I hope this gives you some direction on how to take care of your Paphs.

[MrHappyRotter]

I have some answers for you, but keep in mind this is very general information and there will be differences of opinion. The main thing to keep in mind is that what works for one person, may not work for another due to differences in growing situations and circumstances.

Originally Posted by aliceinwl

I’ve heard that these “like” to be repotted annually regardless of substrate. True?

They definitely don't like broken down potting media, so depending on your mix, it may be necessary to repot annually. They do better with regular repotting than they do with bad mix. One stunts the roots at worst, the other easily leads to root death. That being said, if you're using a mix that doesn't deteriorate quickly such as orchiata or an inorganic mix, you can usually skip a year or two and they do appreciate skipping out on the root stress. Similarly, if you're growing them semi-hydroponically then you also won't need to worry about annual repotting.

Originally Posted by aliceinwl

I have two I personally repotted last year from moss to orchiata that are growing new fans but not roots that I can see. Should I repot them too?

I'm not sure if I would repot or not, but if you're sure they don't have roots, then I doubt there's any harm in repotting. When you repot them, make sure you use a stake or other means to keep them sturdy and stable in the mix. A thin layer of moss on top (preferably live, but dried will do) will help hold a bit of humidity near the root zone. I'd also recommend using some superthrive or seaweed extract (like First Ray's sells), these are basically root stimulants. I don't think garden center rooting powder works on Paphs and might even hinder root formation.

Originally Posted by aliceinwl

I have one I got in March in spike from an orchid show that just finished blooming. It has one fan and is kind of crawling out of the pot. The roots start almost an inch above the substrate. When I repot, should I leave it like this or bury it so the base of the roots are in the substrate?

Climbers can be frustrating to deal with. I don't have any Paphs that are climbers, but I have lots of experience with Phrags, many of which are notorious climbers. I mound moss around the base of the aerial growths and let it sit on top of the pot. After a few years, when things get untidy, I divide by air layering the growths. You may be able to get away with putting it in a deeper pot the same width that it's currently in. Then only partially fill it with mix so that the older growth(s) are sitting at the media level. Then you can mound up a bit of moss next to the new climber, and then just let it do its thing. You could perhaps bury the old growth slightly, but that would make me nervous. Phrags can handle it, but I'm not so sure a Paph would be as forgiving.

Originally Posted by aliceinwl

Are there any cons with moving them from solid pots to clear?

Some people complain because they don't like the appearance of algae that often forms on the inside of clear pots. It also allows things like moss and ferns to grow inside the pot, and those can become a nuisance if and when they grow enough to impede airflow.

But to me, the pros greatly outweigh the cons. And frankly, if moss and algae are a problem for you, you can set the transparent pots down into a standard pot so that the root zone stays dark. Then you still get the benefit of being able to peek at the roots whenever you want. And, that's an incredibly helpful diagnostic tool that lets you keep tabs on your plant's root health. You can see when things are growing and happy or when something might be wrong. If you grow things that need a dry/drier rest season, being able to see the roots can help you gauge when to stop/reduce watering, and when it's time to resume. It also helps you gauge how dry or wet the mix is, so you can fine tune your watering routine, and it makes it more obvious when the potting mix is breaking down, which means you can intervene sooner.

Originally Posted by aliceinwl

My favorite/ first orchid is a Paphiopedilum that has never been repotted (it’s been doing so well I’ve been reluctant to mess with it), but the moss is starting to break down after 3 years. Will switching it over to bark set it back? This one has 3 old fans that have bloomed but this year is pushing two new ones rather than one. I prefer bark, but am willing to repot it into moss if that’s the best option.

There may be a slight setback if you repot, regardless of your choice of mix. If it's in moss that's breaking down, the roots could already be stressed and in declining shape, so any disturbance, however necessary could temporarily stress the roots further. Also, healthy roots are brittle and can be a bit fragile, so the act of repotting can leave them in worse shape even if you're very careful.

Arguably, bark is probably a better substrate (than moss) for most average home growing situations, and if it's something like orchiata it's not going to break down for awhile. If the roots are very healthy with lots of active root tips, just be sure to be very gentle with them and be prepared to water a bit more while they acclimate to the new situation. If the roots are in bad shape, then you need to remove any that are dead and then keep the media hyrdated, but don't water heavily until you see signs of active roots tips (here's where the transparent pots come in handy).

On the flip side, if you wanted to stick with moss, since that's what it is currently in and you've done well with it for 3 years, that would be perfectly reasonable as well.

[aliceinwl]

Thanks so much for the really detailed replies! With the exception of the one (my 3 year old with the broken down moss) everyone is in bark.

I got the P. charlesworthii and P. leeanum from Santa Barbara Orchid Estate last summer. They’re pushing new fans now. When I bought them, they said I should repot this spring, but the bark doesn’t seem to be in bad shape so I may wait.

The two with poor root systems do have some roots and I do have them staked for stability. Since it sounds like they can go two years in good media, I’ll leave them alone (they’re in orchiata).

The vendor that I got two of the bulldog type from and two of the variegated leaves ones from said that the variegated leaved ones could use repotting. I think I’ll give it a go with the climber (it has a single mature fan, but is pushing a new one now). Depending on how it does, I’ll repot the other variegated leaved one after it flowers.

For my 3 year old in moss, it’s in a clear slotted pot and the roots have grown through the slots. The moss is loosely packed so I’m thinking I’ll try to pull the moss out carefully with forceps and drop in the bark mix without removing the plant. It has a really good root system from what I can see.

I’ve been fertilizing with MSU orchid fertilizer which is what Santa Barbara Orchid Estate recommended, but I guess I’ll look around for an additional calcium supplement. Do you think adding something like eggshells would work or watering with hard water / tap water instead of the reverse osmosis water would be better?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Since I don't know what your 3 year old Paph is, I will say that if it is a hybrid, I would not be surprised if it had an epiphytic Paph in its heritage. There are a few true epiphytic Paphs. One of those is Paphiopedilum villosum.

Flickr

http://bluenanta.com/static/utils/im..._000147304.jpg

Another true epiphytic Paph is Paph parishii.

Epiphytic Paphs can be grown in clear pots.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I was thinking maybe I should summarize the 3 different modes of how Paphs grow in the wild.

1. Lithophyte. (Usually on limestone formations.)

note: Paphiopedilum delenatii is an outlier, it is said that it grows on granites where the pH is leaning more towards being acidic.

Paphiopedilum delenatii

2. Semi-terrestrial. (Again, usually on limestone formations.)

3. Epiphyte. (Growing high up on trees, not just on the base of it. You gotta climb up to see them up close.)

I'm gonna link you to a thread from a different orchid forum that I know a few of our members also frequent. I personally love this thread because it is kind of an interactive photo diary of orchids native to Vietnam. The guy's name is Canh. If this name sounds familiar to Paph growers, it's because Paphiopedilum canhii is named after him.

Photo diary from my forest trips to see orchids (part 2)

This should show you how Paphs grow in the wild. It should give you a good idea of what you might have to do in cultivation to get them to grow well.

[aliceinwl]

Very cool thread, it’s amazing that any can go from the jungle to windowsill!

I found a 2 year old photo of my 3 year old (the white one) and a photo of the climber in bloom from earlier this year. All my variegated leaved Paphs are hybrids and were purported to be easy growers or were grocery store buys.