My New Paph - help?

[teh_Kibbster]

Okay, I recieved my Paph. Dellophyllium (sp?) a little less than a week ago. I bought it from someone about an hour away from here, on Ebay.

I got it within 2 days of payment, and the thing was just in spag and dry as a bone. My understanding was that these guys like to be wet all the time? I didn't notice any real growth of roots when I potted it up haphazardly with my chunky phal bark with clay s/h balls at the bottom, leftover from my latest experiment. I soaked it really well and the leaves perked back up. I had been researching, but I'm still nervous about my new non-phal pet.

I did more research, ordered a finer bark and something called Paph Magic, which "Provides slow-release calcium and silica for strong shiny leaves and increases vigour. Gently raises the pH to optimal levels." I figured it couldn't hurt. Any thoughts? I'm supposed to add a teaspoon full sprinkled on the top every 3 months.
The supplies arrived today, and I took it out of the coarse bark I had it in, and repotted into the finer mix. However, on three roots, there's new white tips about 0.5cm in length in under a week. What worries me is that they look hairy.

It doesn't appear to be mold, but it is most certainly attached to the roots. Is this normal? I let it be after some google searches and didn't snap a pic. It didn't smell or look like rot or fungus, it seemed quite healthy, but I hadn't noticed it upon its first pot up. The tips are stark white. Also, I had been keeping the medium very damp, watering every three days.

Also, the leaves have some brown patches. It looks like old damage that has healed up. Nothing I'm too concerned about. The plant appears to have two crowns? Is this normal?
My understanding is yes, but I just want to be certain I don't need to split it. The seller said it was blooming size, but it doesn't look healthy enough to bloom. However, that pale pink flower is something I'm striving for. So pretty! I have the rocks in the pot to help keep in moisture, to keep the plant straight, and because I think they look pretty. I hope they are not problematic?

ETA: pictures of the leaf damage, crowns, and plant with hand as size reference. Taken at 7:00 p.m. today.

[katrina]

Paphs have hairy roots...what you're describing sounds very normal. They tend to be hairy and kind of wiry.

As for the crowns...paphs grow in clumps. Each clump blooms only once and the new growths/clumps are what will make future flowers. It's best to leave them grow into nice sized clumps...the bigger they get, the better they bloom.

I can't say for certain what's going on w/your leaves but it sort of looks bacterial. The spots that appear kind of wet (at least to my eyes) tell me bacterial. I had this problem when the leaves didn't dry and it was chilly. And, some of the areas look to be mechanical damage. If it were mine, I would watch and wait. If it gets worse, I'd spray.

With this said...let's wait for one of the paph experts to chime in on the patches/spots and what they would do.

[Orchidsrock]

The two crown thing is totally normal. Each crown has a finite size and further growth is then diverted to a new crown, a bit like pseudobulb growth in a lot of orchid species. Or at least that is what my Paph NOID is doing.

That's great that you have new roots growing that fast, and yes hairy is normal for these guys.

I would suspect that the damage to the leaves is mechanical, but definitely keep an eye on them for spread or growth of the areas. Definitely make sure the crown is dry before dusk, if the crown is wet all the time or at night it can precipitate infections or even crown rot. I *always* water mine in the morning (except when it's 2pm and I notice it is waaayy too dry).

Good luck, sounds like it's liking your care so far!

[teh_Kibbster]

I am pretty religious about not getting water on the leaves of my plants. If I happen to spill, I'm running for paper towel to get it off. Call it OCD, but the stories of crown rot spooked me. I normally water Saturday mornings so they still have all day to dry. They're also right above a floor vent, so they get plenty of air movement to help.

Good to know hairy is normal! I couldn't find anything online about it, and my only experience with orchids thus far has been Phals and Cyms. I saw a few pictures on Google with large clumps of this plant, but I didn't know each crown only blooms once.

The tip damage to the leaves looks a bit like rough handling, but the one large spot had me a bit worried. It could simply be carelessness when watering, I don't know what kind of treatment it had before.

Thanks so much for the help!

[Daethen]

Just to touch on it, the stark white tips are the equivalent of green growing tips on your phals. It is happy, relax. I too bought my first paph and then found out that each new fan (growth) only blooms once. Bummed me out at first, but now I am cool with it and own about 10 paphs. Still waiting on my first earned bloom on them though.