(Paph. Supersuk "Eureka" AM/AOS x Paph Raisin Pie "Hsinying") x Sib yellowing leaf

[Hisjazzy]

I have a (Paph. Supersuk "Eureka" AM/AOS x Paph Raisin Pie "Hsinying") x Sib. One of four leaves is yellowing at the tip. Since I first posted this question, a few days ago, it has not worsened. I received the plant on March 16, 2006. I have not yet fertilized it. It has been watered twice the first time very little the second time (last night) enough that I could see the water was able to flow through the medium in which it is planted. It has been living in a 'morning sun' window in my kitchen. It remains in it's plastic pot, which rests in a lovely if strange pottery pot that has a small 'lip' around the bottom in which someone placed a bit of the potting medium and I keep some wter in that which I was told would help it's humidity levels. There is no drain in the bottom of this pottery however there are 'slotted' holes all around the sides of it. A final question: should I be brave enough to remove the orchid from the plastic and make it's home in the pottery, and if so will it require that I find additional potting medium? Or should leave it alone in it's plastic. This was a gift...not a personal choice in plant care. I have a true tendency to kill off green things. However I would like to keep this lovely little plant alive as long as possible and perhaps learn more about them in the process. Your helpful assistance is greatly appreciated.

[Tommyr]

Originally Posted by Hisjazzy

I have a (Paph. Supersuk "Eureka" AM/AOS x Paph Raisin Pie "Hsinying") x Sib. One of four leaves is yellowing at the tip. Since I first posted this question, a few days ago, it has not worsened. I received the plant on March 16, 2006. I have not yet fertilized it. It has been watered twice the first time very little the second time (last night) enough that I could see the water was able to flow through the medium in which it is planted. It has been living in a 'morning sun' window in my kitchen. It remains in it's plastic pot, which rests in a lovely if strange pottery pot that has a small 'lip' around the bottom in which someone placed a bit of the potting medium and I keep some wter in that which I was told would help it's humidity levels. There is no drain in the bottom of this pottery however there are 'slotted' holes all around the sides of it. A final question: should I be brave enough to remove the orchid from the plastic and make it's home in the pottery, and if so will it require that I find additional potting medium? Or should leave it alone in it's plastic. This was a gift...not a personal choice in plant care. I have a true tendency to kill off green things. However I would like to keep this lovely little plant alive as long as possible and perhaps learn more about them in the process. Your helpful assistance is greatly appreciated.

I'd leave it alone. I have one of these too (bought it last year in bloom) and I got it to rebloom this year! Mine is in a west window with no real direct sun. I feed it every other watering with half strength Miracle grow.

I'd also take it out of that pot with the water on the bottom. It's not needed.

Tom

Here's mine, taken today!

[jerrymeola]

Like every type of orchid if the yellowing leaf is one of the oldest it is probably natural attrition. If the newest growth dies then is the time to worry.

In general lady slippers like to be moist most of the time unlike othre types of orchids. Letting them dry out for any length of time is bad for the plants.

If you want to leave it in the fancy pot for looks I would remove the plant for watering, pouring a lot of water over the plant and allowing it to drain out before replacing it in the pot. Using fertilizer every other week at the rate of about 1 teaspoon per gallon is advisable for best growth.