critical mass on Paph (?)

[Vivienne]

I had a conversation with Kevin a little while back regarding my Paph Tomas Garcia which seems to be on growth overload. Kevin - let me know if it is okay to post your responses to me).

This plant is currently working on 15 new growths (Kevin, that's 2 new ones since we chatted). I thought, now that I have a new question about this plant, that I would bring it to the forum for everyone's benefit, not just mine.

I have taken SOOOOO many pics of the new growths and just can not get clear pics. This time I put the camera on a platform to keep it steady. A photographer I'm not. Sorry about the blur.

My new question - this plant was repotted about 2 months ago now. But with all the new growth going on, the plant is now pushing itself UP out of the media. What is my best course of action at this point in time????

(note - these are all different angles of the plant)

[fred]

Vivienne

My opinion on that is to repot into a slighty deeper pot.

[Vivienne]

Fred - would you just 'pot on' and try to keep the mass all together with the media into a larger pot? Or try to spread it out?

Kevin had suggested leaving it alone but that was before the additional 2 growths and the entire plant moving UP in the media.

Okay, had an added thought... are we meaning larger around or larger deeper? or both? LOL

[fred]

Quote=Vivienne]Fred - would you just 'pot on' and try to keep the mass all together with the media into a larger pot ?

Yes dont split the plant at all.
Try to remove the plant with as much media as you can then into another pot.

the plant just needs a deeper pot a next size up would help also

[prisana]

Vivienne, Please give me the name of the fert. you are using !!... BTW congrats on the popular award. I totally forgot about your celebrity status ...shame on me..

I don't have any advice on paphs ( I am a newbie ) but just wanted to congratulate you...good job, well done.

[Vivienne]

prisana - THANKS! I'm not a 'celebrity' type person. Just me.

I have only been using Worm Tea... it was a healthy plant when I first bought it. This plant just went berserk. Kevin's thoughts to me were it's either reached his 'critical mass' status (will let Kevin explain) or there is something wrong with it and it's throwing out all the new growth to try and save itself. With the recent rise in the pot, I'm tending to think the critical mass stage has been reached. At least my current thinking is that the roots are growing at an equally amazing rate and running out of room.

Potting on it's going to be. Have new bark mix soaking.

[Vivienne]

Fred, not to worry, I have no intentions of dividing this bad boy! Possibly after another blooming cycle or two.

[fred]

thats good Vivienne

can you let us know how you go ?

[sandra]

OK, what gives Vivienne? You've got an award winning paph and now you're growing this mammoth plant which will produce an enormous amount of flowers and I just repotted my one little paph that bloomed one flower and every day I check on it and it looks just the way it did when I repotted it. What's going on? You're holding out!

P.S. And now you've won most popular member category on top of everything!!!! Nobody deserved it more than you, btw.

[kmarch]

Hi Vivienne,

If the plant is pushing itself out of the pot than a repot into something slightly larger might be in order. If you do repot, be careful not to position the plant too deep in the mix. Don't let the base of the plant, the place where the leaves join wiht the roots, be more than maybe 1/4 to 1/2 inch below the surface of the mix. Too deep means too wet for new growths emerging from the base. Even 1/2 inch may be too much for some plants.

[Vivienne]

Kevin - thanks. I have bark soaking and this will be my Sunday project. I'm hoping to be able to get this as close to level as I can. I took a peek at the roots (plastic pot inside terra cotta) and it appears to have some substantial growth down there too. Will take pics tomorrow.

Sandra - I don't know what gives... and again, I'm not taking the credit for this one. It just went beserk! I'm still going to go with the skylight tinting. The 'chids just love it. The Ansellia I got at the OS meeting is growing pretty heartily too.
You are so sweet to say that! THANKS!! Congrats on your wins... Best Thread - had to be the hands down best thread! Are we even sure that Kevin showed us the real Kevin??? LOL

[kmarch]

Best thread? Sandra, which thread did you win best thread for? I'm a moderator and I didn't even know there was such an award.

[sandra]

Originally Posted by Vivienne

Are we even sure that Kevin showed us the real Kevin??? LOL

Yeah, I'm afraid so Viv, that party-pooper! That was so much fun, I have to admit. I went through a lot of Huggies then, LOL. Thanks for the congrats!

[Vivienne]

Sandra - get a load of Kevin pretending not to know what we're talking about! LOL I think the award was created just because of the Kevin Sightings thread. It was hilarious. Lots of Huggies here too... plus a lot of napkins to wipe up the coffee splurts. hehehe

[sandra]

Caught that Vivienne! And would you believe I was who suggested this new award theme?! I saw it on another site and thought that would be good for here, not thinking about the "Kevin sightings." Something toooooooo ridiculous again will happen and we'll all jump in, right Kermit?

[fred]

Originally Posted by kmarch

Best thread? Sandra, which thread did you win best thread for? I'm a moderator and I didn't even know there was such an award.

Hey kevin it pays to keep an eye on my Signature it was also placed in the
Suggestions, Feedback & Site section, New Competition Starting on the 22.6

[kmarch]

i suppose it does, anywat back to the Paph....

[Vivienne]

okay Kevin, back to the paph.

The repot has been completed and as I suspected, root growth was equal to new growth growth. Remember, I just repotted this 2 months ago.

Went from a 4" to 5.5" pot which should keep it happy for several years to come.

[fred]

well done Vivienne looks pretty good