No new growth on Paphiopedilum?

[Aleksa]

I got one green-leaf hybrid 4 months ago (January). It was in bloom and when the bloom fell off I transplanted it in new mix because old mix was decaying. Roots were in excellent condition. Plant has 4 big, mature growths and it still doesn't grow new shots from the base? Am I doing something wrong? I keep it with my other slippers which are growing nicely. This plant is repotted in bark mix and base of old growths is above substrate. Maybe that is the reason of stagnation?

[patticake]

There are others better qualified to answer this, for sure- but, I say give it time to rest... I have one plant that I had given up hope on. It still looked healthy enough, but wasn't doing anything! All my others were showing some sort of growth. I thought I had better check the roots and try a different potting medium. When I started to un-pot it, --There was a small new growth at the base. Yay! It had sat for a few months.- It just wasn't it's time
Good luck and be patient. If there's signs of stress, I would investigate further...
Some times the new growth is inside the fold of the lower leaves. Hold it up to the light and you may see something starting as a shadow!

[patlee]

I'll be very interested in following this thread. I can buy a paph in bloom and watch the flower for a while. After the bloom I have a perfectly beautiful,healthy looking plant. So I put it with my phals!! It should bloom again,right? Not a snowballs chance in he*l. I'm really curious as to why they stall...

[Ron]

This plant is repotted in bark mix and base of old growths is above substrate. Maybe that is the reason of stagnation?

I have about 2 thousand Paphs and most produce a new growth as the older growth matures. some a bit later after flowering.

I find the best way to repot them is to bury the base of the plant about 20 mm (1/2 inch) below the top of the potting mix. this allows the new growth to come out of the base of the older growth and so as it grows the new root system should be just below the top of the potting mix and the roots will grow straight into the mix without any problems
(I use an open potting mix to suit the pot size)
I hope this may be of help.
Cheerio
Ron

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Aleksa

I got one green-leaf hybrid 4 months ago...Roots were in excellent condition. ... doesn't grow new shoots from the base? Am I doing something wrong?

Not necessarily. 4 months is not very long and not enough time to expect much out of a new orchid. New orchids usually have to do a little adjusting then they take off growing. This is also sometimes true for a newly repotted orchid, sometimes they sit for a bit after repotting then take off.

Originally Posted by Aleksa

This plant is repotted in bark mix and base of old growths is above substrate. Maybe that is the reason of stagnation?

Although I prefer to pot my Paphs with the base of the plant at the level of the mix I don't think this would be a reason not to grow. There could be other factors affecting the plant as well that we don't yet know about, culture factors like temperature - if it is cool, growth will slow way down or stop.

Originally Posted by patlee

It should bloom again,right? Not a snowballs chance in he*l. I'm really curious as to why they stall...

What do you mean by "stall"? Do you mean they don't re-bloom or they don't grow? Paphs vary with respect to how long it takes a growth to mature and bloom. Maudiae-types can mature a new growth in a year or 2. The big multiflorals can take 3 or more years for a growth to mature.

As I mentioned above, Paph growth will dramatically slow down, even stp if the temps are too cool. There may be other factors which I wouldnt' know about not knowing which Paphs you have or what your conditions are.

[Aleksa]

I wanted to bury base of plant but root system is very developed and I couldn't place plant deeper in the pot. I could have potted it in something bigger but I like to keep chids in small pots... Watering is easier and they grow more intensive.

It is spring here in Montenegro and temp's are ok... Around 20 degree Celsius at night and a bit more during the day.

Plant looks very healthy, so I will do nothing but wait...

[Aleksa]

Finally... My paph is making one new growth at the base of one leaf. Also, old growths are growing new leaves... Wooho... I expect flowers in the autumn (it is spring here)!

[patticake]

Dear Aleksa, I'm soooo happy for you! As I said, they just need some quiet time to get used to their environment! I knew that you would bring it through! I can tell that you have the "touch"... Good luck, and keep us posted!

[Aleksa]

Originally Posted by patticake

Dear Aleksa, I'm soooo happy for you! As I said, they just need some quiet time to get used to their environment! I knew that you would bring it through! I can tell that you have the "touch"... Good luck, and keep us posted!

Thank you patticake!

My paphs, Oncidiums, Dens and Catts are growing very nice but I have problem with phals. Can't give them conditions they need. It doesn't matter indeed, I like other chids more. One my paph is going to bloom and I will post pictures.

[patticake]

You know, Aleksa, Many people think that Phals. are the easiest to grow!- I don't agree! I only have 4 of them and only 2 are doing well. All my other orchids are doing well.- Including the ones that are supposedly hard to grow! I can't wait to see the photos of your Paph! What is the name of it?

[Aleksa]

Originally Posted by patticake

You know, Aleksa, Many people think that Phals. are the easiest to grow!- I don't agree! I only have 4 of them and only 2 are doing well. All my other orchids are doing well.- Including the ones that are supposedly hard to grow! I can't wait to see the photos of your Paph! What is the name of it?

I totally agree... Phals are easy to grow if you have right conditions but they will not tolerate any changes in temperature, or moving from house outside etc..
Cattleyas and Oncidiums and especially orchids which require winter rest are growing good in my enviroment and I think that, from now on, I will get more of nobile type dendrobiums, maybe some Coelogyne if I had chance to get one... They are extremely difficult to find in this part of the world.

In autumn I had 5 phals and 3 of them died during the winter. I'm definitely giving up from them.


Unfortunately, I do not know the name of this paph, it is some mottled leaf hybrid. It is impossible to get some chid with tag here. All of them are marked as 'phalaenopsis mix', or 'paphiopedilum mix', or just 'orchid mix'... Grrr....

I have just one orchid which name I know. That is Paphiopedilum 'Vestalia' . I got it from Bulgaria...

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Aleksa

...but I have problem with phals. Can't give them conditions they need.

Give them the exact same everything as you give your Paphs, same mix, same watering, same light, same temps, everything. Try this for about a year and wee what happens.

[Aleksa]

Originally Posted by kmarch

Give them the exact same everything as you give your Paphs, same mix, same watering, same light, same temps, everything. Try this for about a year and wee what happens.

Oh beleive me kmarch I tried. This is second year since I grow phals. The problem is winter, in winter I keep them in house. But only place where I can keep them is cold and dark... They stagnate whole winter and when I get them in greenhouse all leaves become yellow and fall off. Also, many of them which are sold here have some nasty bacterial infections which spread and kill the plant in the end.

Paphs are ok in winter, they just stop growth during the winter and start growing in Spring...

[tina jacobs]

hey aleksa

i was just wondering what is your temp in the winte thre by you?

[Aleksa]

Tina I believe that we live in similar climate area (subtropical).

Here in Montenegro in winter temperatures go around 5 degree Celsius, that is minimum and almost never goes below. And normal winter temperature is around 10 Celsius. In Summer it is very very hot and dry (goes over 40 degree Celsius). I have covered balcony which works as a greenhouse and in winter temperature is around 10 C which makes perfect conditions for growing winter-rest orchids...

[Aleksa]

There is the picture of opened bloom on my 'birthday paph'... It really isn't nothing spectacular. Plant was growing in very poor conditions and the bloom is a bit deformed, colors aren't so intensive, but it is cute... I love paphs.

I hope that this guy will bloom better next time in my care...

[Tobi]

I think it looks great. The color is very nice and I'm sure it will do very well under your
care. Thanks for posting a pic!!

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Aleksa

Here in Montenegro in winter temperatures go around 5 degree Celsius...normal winter temperature is around 10 Celsius. In Summer it is very very hot and dry (goes over 40 degree Celsius)...

Aleska, his sounds exactly like Melbourne Australia where I live. Cool wet winters around 5-10C and hot dry summers that can see 40+C. This is very helpful in giving useful cultural advice. And I now understand why your phals didn't do so good. Folks have trouble growing phals here in Melbourne too unless they grow them indoors pretty much all year.

Originally Posted by Aleksa

There is the picture of opened bloom on my 'birthday paph'... It really isn't nothing spectacular.

With respect I beg to differ. Though I do see the slight deformation on the left side of the pouch, other than that I find it to be quite clean, nicely coloured, and very charming. Usually these types come out with somewhat muddy pinkish colour, but yours is, I see, a nice white-green. I think yours is better coloured than most.

[fred]

I will beg to differ as well
you have a nice paph there thank you for sharing with us