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Post by vraev on Jul 27, 2008 2:01:18 GMT -5
Hi guys, Remember that a while ago I bought this orchid (Jun 16): Now...the orchid took a while to adjust...now its growing....but not from the main tip. Its growing from an offshoot. I was hoping that the main tip would continue as well. But, if u can notice....the signs are bleak. Is this normal for a paph to abort its growth tip after flowering? Now remember...I got this on a POST BLOOM shelf where they sell orchids that have finished blooming for like 50% price. ANd this was deep inside the shelf in the darkness. Current pics: closeups: click to enlarge thanks, V
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Post by lloyd on Jul 27, 2008 7:15:44 GMT -5
the roots look nice and healthy. The plant will be fine.
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Post by vraev on Jul 27, 2008 13:50:36 GMT -5
But what about the main plant's growth tip? Is that it ? Will it not grow anymore? I have to wait for the basal to grow to that size ??
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Post by Rick Hillier on Jul 27, 2008 15:46:57 GMT -5
Paphs only have one flower spike per growth, but don't worry... those basals grow out fast enough. Look for the plant to bloom once per year if it's happy.
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Post by vraev on Jul 27, 2008 19:55:49 GMT -5
But Rick....does that mean that its done for the main plant?? I was hoping to have this nice bushy orchid. I mean do ur plants do this too?? DOes the main growth tip stop growing once it finishes flowering? But, definitely thanks for getting back to me about the orchid Rick & Lloyd. I appreciate the input.
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Post by Rick Hillier on Jul 28, 2008 5:53:45 GMT -5
Hi VRAEV:
Once a paph flowers from a growth point, that is pretty much it for that growth point. The foliage from that growth point will hang around for quite a while, but all of the "action" will be in the new growth point. Sometimes the plant will produce a another growth point from a different area of the plant, so you can get a "branching" effect this way.
Phragmepediums do the same thing if you ever get into those down the road.
>>> Rick <<<
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Post by vraev on Jul 28, 2008 12:19:17 GMT -5
Sweeet! thanks for letting me know. Phew!! that makes me feel better.
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Post by jay on Jul 28, 2008 15:24:33 GMT -5
how old is that soil mix , looks pretty decayed , paph soil mix should be changed every 9 months to a year. Changeing the soils mix also cause the paph to go into a vigorus growth spurt. and also try fresh ground cinnimon, dust it in the leaves (natural fungicide and cause's paph's to grow vigorously) Paph also are do like indirect light on the shadey side (great for indoor growing ) . For a really good read on the subject check out tropical slipper orchids , by timber press pubishing
good luck with it
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Post by vraev on Jul 28, 2008 15:54:39 GMT -5
Hi Jay, I don't really know how old it is. I got it on the bargain (post bloom orchid) shelf in sheridan nursaries for 20$ or so. This was about ending of june sometime. You are not alone in advising about the soil mix. I guess Kevin was right as well.... I guess I will repot it into fresh media. I have the orchid mix bags with me. I will pot the plant up in that mix which contains sponge rock, bark, charcoal. Thanks!!
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Post by vraev on Jul 28, 2008 19:46:39 GMT -5
UPDATE:: Kevin & Jay are right!! the media is rotted. Its not charcoal. It was all bark!!!
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Post by vraev on Jul 28, 2008 20:03:43 GMT -5
Alright! here is the entire ordeal. I was watching some videos on repotting orchids from expertvillage.com: www.expertvillage.com/video-series/657_orchid-care-for-beginners.htmNow! I flushed water down the pot....slowly typical unpotting method: Gentle removing of the plant + media from the pot. Click images to enlarge for closeupold media + plant: Note that the media is waaay darker black than the picture shows. camera just shows this brightness on default. Old media detail + new pot with new media in background Plant detail I realised that the old pot was too small as the roots are reaching all the way from one side to the other [/url] Fresh potted New media: 1 inch of orchid mix and 2 inches of medium grade orchid bark Final shot
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Post by lloyd on Jul 28, 2008 21:39:14 GMT -5
I'm not that much of an expert but I've found the smaller the pot the better, as long as the healthy roots fit into it. I also have found that cutting all the dubious looking roots is better in the long run.
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Post by vraev on Jul 28, 2008 21:54:35 GMT -5
hmm.... I thought this pot will also increase room...give the plant some more room to spread and grow. I remember reading somewhere that if the roots start filling the pot, the plant might be in need of a bigger pot. I was thinking about cutting roots...but all the roots were FIRM and not at all mushy. Paphs don't have chlorophyll in their roots so its hard to recognise which were rotted. The interesting thing is how few thick roots there are in there. I guess that is the reason for its slow growth. I guess its good that i repotted it before it also went downhill like my phalenopsis.
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Post by kd on Jul 30, 2008 22:48:57 GMT -5
Vraev - you are getting some good advice here, and I'd like to add my 2 cents worth too. Paphs, and most orchids in general, like to be pot-bound. If you over-pot an orchid, you will probably kill it. The main cause is that the medium will stay too wet, as there aren't enough roots to absorb the water. If the medium stays wet, the roots will rot. Paphs. generally like to be in as small a pot as possible, up to the point of bursting the pot. For your plant, I would suggest repotting it again into a pot the same size or smaller than what it came in. Important - do not break the roots!! Paphs usually are not very generous when it comes to roots, so be careful. The roots you have look fine, except for maybe the long ones in the middle - they look rotted, but I can't tell form here. Choose a pot that is the same width as the roots are now, and keep moist, but not wet. This will be very important when trying to revive a sick plant. I found a pic that sort of shows the pot size that you should be aiming for www.orchidweb.com/detail.aspx?ID=1950 Check for new roots where the new growth is coming out - each growth needs it's own roots. I personally would pot this plant in damp, loose moss at this point, to give it a chance to get some new roots. Fine bark and perlite/sponge rock will also work. Something that is free-draining but also where all the roots will be in contact with the medium, so that they stay moist (NOT WET). I would pot it so that the new growth is at or just below the surface, to encourage new roots to form. Now, about this 'growing tip'. What you are referring to is actually the spend flower spike, not a growing tip. Paphs grow in a sympodial method, that is multiple growing tips. Compare this to Irises, Daylilies, etc. The opposite is monopodial, which is one growing tip, which would be like your Phal. See the difference? If grown well, you can end up with a large, multi-growth plant, with multiple flowers at the same time. Here's an example: www.orchidweb.com/detail.aspx?ID=1257 Hope this helps. Any questions, just ask. I'm not an expert, but do have some experience, so I can only help you with what I know.
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Post by vraev on Jul 31, 2008 0:27:59 GMT -5
aaah! thanks for the guidance guys! I'll repot it tomorrow morning. hmm....I guess I do have some smaller pots. I'll pot it in that. I don't know if it will fit in.....but I'll give it a shot.
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