Repotting a Paph.

[Sassismom]

Pretty much everything I read says to pot them in bark and sphag. Well I don't have any sphag. left and can't buy any. So my question is...can I repot in coir?

[myorchid]

I pot all my Paph's in bark with perilite mixed in. Sphag stays too wet for me here in my area. My Paph's are doing great, growing and blooming in bark.

You could use coir, but it depends on your area.

[kmarch]

Theoretically you can use almost anything as long as the plant receives the conditions it wants. Some folks here in Australia grow Phrags (which like lots of water) in perelite. Perilite dries out super fast so they have to water frequently, basically a constant drip. I couldn't possibly water that often nor do I have the space or set up that would allow me to use a drip, so I use a mix that retains moisture: bark, perilite, coir chunks, sphag (which I have started to leave out), coir peat (ground coir), charcoal, and shredded oak leaves .

[Sassismom]

Ok, thanks so I'll try my coir mixed with some bark and perlite maybe, and just keep a watch on them. I guess phrags. and paphs. are much the same as far as conditions go?

[mayres]

In my area most people use bark and perlite mixed. I have tried a few in coir and perlite - also with positive results. As Kevin notes - a lot of potential media types and mixes can potentially work - as in many types of orchids. Your choice should work well as long as you get the watering schedule worked out.

[Sassismom]

Thanks, they haven't bloomed in over a year, so I guess I must not be giving them everything they need, although they both have some new growth.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Sassismom

I guess phrags. and paphs. are much the same as far as conditions go?

No, they are different. Many phrags (except for xerophyticum and the caudatum group) like really a lot of water and are often grown sitting in trays or saucers of water. You'd never do that with a Paph. Also many paphs can tolerate, and aactually prefer, temperatures much colder than phrags can stand. Finally phrags like more light. I grow mine in cattleya type light.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Sassismom

Thanks, they haven't bloomed in over a year, so I guess I must not be giving them everything they need.

This is possible, but many paphs and phrags are usually pretty easy to grow and flower.

What kind of Paphs and phrags do you have and what are the conditions under which you're growing them?

[Sassismom]

I don't have any phrags. I have 4 paphs. 2 noids, one shiny and one mottled and one delenatii 'New Two' and delenatii x moquettianum. I have them in a semi shaded S. window.

[Chele]

For whatever reason (probably me reading too much at one time trying to soak it all in at once) I was of the thought that my paph needed the bright light that my cats like. All my orchids are outside and on the east side of the house.

When hurricane Fay was breezing by, I brought my more tender orchids inside the house, my paph included. I had put them in a west window with filtered light. Now it was only 2-3 days until I was taking them back out and noticed how much the paph loved its (temporary) new home. The new leaves had grown - noticeably grown by an inch, maybe more. It had otherwise been nearly dormant since its bloom which had died off in April. It had started these new leaves after her flower died, but barely and she wasn't in a terrible rush in fact seemed rather shy about them. Not now. She's happy happy!

The temporary home inside with the air condition in the west window is now her permanent residence. I sure hope my other orchids don't get jealous, coz I don't have room for 40 plants. Maybe I'll even get her to bloom

[Aleksa]

Hello people!

I was busy for last few months but I'm back again!

I repoted my paphs today. They were growing in pure bark. One of them had some roots rotted because of little air movement. I decided to make an experiment with one mix that I think could work well. I used mix of peat, bark, polystyrene, and hydroton. Peat holds water and polystyrene and clay peebles keep the mix open... I believe that I will have to water them less frequent than before. I just hope that their roots will not rot...

[Ron]

Hi
My 2 cents worth on the Paph potting mixes.
I grow many hundreds of Paphs. species, Exhibition type, Maudiae, Multi florals etc.
Pot size determines my bark size.
I use diatomite 1 part to 10 parts bark (roughly) same size as bark
2 inch sq tubes for seedling I use a 10 mm bark. 3 inches to what ever I use a 15 Mm bark and if by chance I ever use an 8 in pot I would add a 50/50 mix of 20 mm and 15 mm.
This suits my style of growing and watering conditions.
Co Co nugetts of say equal size would work just as well I suppose but watering conditions will have to be changed.
I may one day try Co Co Nuggets but at present I get great results for the bark mix so why change.
Then again nearly everyone has their secret/favorite mix and it most likely works well (?) for them.
I like to keep it simple and uncomplecated.
My 2 cents worth.
Ron