Curling Paph Leaf

[Sharyn]

I've looked everywhere and cannot find any references to curled leaves.
My top paph leaf started to curl - not at the tip - but lenghtwise from the crown to the tip, curling outward. Only one leaf affected. Is this a cultural problem? Perhaps temperature extremes (which we've had a lot of these days), or some other stress?

[prisana]

Hi Sharyn, I was just gonna ask that. My paph leave (1) is curled like Lay's potato chips, also length wise. It would be nice to know what caused this.

[tom499]

Is it getting enough water?

also, did it grow like this, or did it grow to out, then change afterwards.

a picture would help also.

[Sharyn]

Tom: My did not grow like this and I know it's been getting plenty of water. It changed over the past week - that's why I thought perhaps it was the temperatures from 90F to 58F and then back & forth. Wasn't too successful getting a pic the other day. I'll try again.

[tom499]

If it did not grow in this shape then it must be down to a change in environment.

Temperature could very well have caused this, a change in 30 fahrenheit is alot (although i usually use celsius its quite similiar) and it would explain possible changes.

is there anyway you can control these changes during these weather patterns?

[Sharyn]

Originally Posted by tom499

is there anyway you can control these changes during these weather patterns?

This one has not been outside at all, but perhaps got a draft from the window.

[prisana]

Mine came from the nursery that way..I'll post a pic when I can find the camera..

[tom499]

hmmm, one thing we can say though is its only a minor thing.

Maybe moving it to a slightly different spot and see how it goes. It is weird its only one leaf though.

[kmarch]

Sudden leaf curling can also be caused by mites. Carefully examine the underside of the curling leaf, looking for tiny, dust-like light specks (the mites) or dark specks (their "leavings"). If you don't see anythign, wipe your finger along the underside of the leaf and see if it picks up anything.

[Sharyn]

Oh......Kevin, I never thought of mites. I'll check it in the morning with a magnifying glass when it's light out. Thanks for the tip.

[Sharyn]

Kevin: Checked this morning with a magnifiying glass. Couldn't see anything but two little specks, which I think are just a little residue from the bark. (Old eyes - difficult to see). Just in case, I sprayed with Schultz insecticide soap.

This is the coldest May I can remember for many years. Right now it's 59F and very low humidity. This paph has always been indoors, but I admit to being a fresh air freak, always having windows open, perhaps it caught a draft? I'm just guessing - you're the expert. Here's a few pics.

[kmarch]

Hi Sharyn,

Thanks for posting the pics, they're quite helpful. By your description I was imagining somethign much more extreme and severe. I see a little of this sort of curling in my Paphs from time to time. If you've checked for mites and other bugs (it seems Paphs are prone to having mealies) and found the plant is clean I woudn't worry about the curling. I believe it is probably normal, or at least not malevolent.

What is the plant? From the leaves, I guess some sort of venustum hybrid?

[tom499]

Have you changed the direction of light or anything? I've noticed my orchids are very quick on the uptake when the pot is moved round, the leaves will angle towards the light.

It could be that, possibly.

[Sharyn]

Kevin: It' Paph. venustum album x Paph. primulinum. I like the mottled leaves and have only had this a few months. It's growing a new leaf and other than the curl in the leaf, seems to be doing well.

Yes Tom, it gets moved around alot since my growing area is small and quite sure it gets light from a different direction everytime it's moved.

[prisana]

Hi, here are 2 two pics of my paph leave..not exactly curled , but look more like ridges . Any idea what's going on ? Thanks a bunch.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Sharyn

Kevin: It' Paph. venustum album x Paph. primulinum.

Yummmm, nice. This cross has actually been named. It is Paph Arnold J. Klehm. Today i picked up a Paph Crossianum (venustum alba x insigne v. sanderae). It's got bright yellow venustum-like flowers. I was quite taken with it. I'll hopefully get my camera out tomorrow and take some more pics of everything.

[kmarch]

Prisana,

I see this alot in Phrags that have been clochicine treated to induce polyploidy. I see it also in complex Paph hybrids. I have a couple Paphs doing this. One has started growing again and is now growing a normal leaf.

[prisana]

Kevin,
Thank you for replying so quickly. There are a couple of big words there that I'm not sure I've heard before , but it's nice to know it's not something I should fuss about. Also, what's a complex hybrid ?

[kmarch]

Oh, (laughing at myself) sorry, sometimes I just let the words fly.

Remember back to high school biology when we learned about cell division? When a cell divides, first the nucleus, which contains the genetic material, replicates itself. The 2 complete sets of genetic material migrate to opposite sides of the cell and the cell finishes dividing. Ta-da, 2 cells each with one complete set of genetic info (chomosomes).

Colchicine is a chemical that inhibits the migration of the 2 sets of genetic material to opposite sides of the cell. The result is that the cell doesn't divide and now the single cell contains 2 complete sets of genetic material.

The term "ploidy" refers to a set of chromomes, "polyploidy" meaning multiple sets. Orchids are normally "diploid" meaning they have 2 sets of chromosomes (2n). Colchicine treatment results in an orchid become "tetraploid" or having 4 sets of chromosomes (4n). You may see a "4n" on a plant tag from time to time or hear someone referring to an orchid as beng a "tetraploid". Polyploidy can occur naturally, without chemical treatment but in orchids it is frequently done with colchicine.

More info on Colchicine
More on polyploidy

Ok, so all that is nice and academic, but so what? Why should I care? Well, polyploidy results in larger plants and flowers, increased floriferousness, more pronounced colouration, and more hybrid vigor. In other words, bigger, better, and more flowers on heartier plants, all things we like. So that's it in a nutshell.

Happy Growing!

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by prisana

Also, what's a complex hybrid ?

The term "complex hybrid" is used to refer to a couple of different things.

1) It referrs generally to any hybrid with another hybrid as one or both parents.
2) It also refers to a specific kind of Paph breeding. These kinds of Paphs are also called "bulldog Paphs," "standard Paphs," or "exhibition Paphs."

A pic of some "complex Paphs"

[Aniko]

wow, Kevin, incredible beauty....

[Sharyn]

Wow! They're stunning Kevin. You certainly know what your're doing.

[kmarch]

Sharyn,

Those Paphs weren't mine. If you look at the URL you'll see I linked to the site of a uy who grows Paphs in Ohio.

[Sharyn]

I only saw photobucket on the URL, but I'm sure yours are just as beautiful.

[sandra]

Kevin, those are magnificent. It amazes me, even if there's manipulation involved, what mother nature provides with the right TLC. I've never seen before clicking this link, paphs so beautiful. This was a first for me. Thank you.

[prisana]

A-HA ! Thanks a lot for the very useful info, Kevin. A lot of things I've learned back in HS had apparently escaped me It does matter a lot to know what my plants hailed from and what made the flowers so large. Now I'm a bit smarter than yesterday ! Thanks again.