John M
Orchid Addict
I've had this plant for many, many years. It would grow a bit, bloom and then nearly die. I'd manage to save it and it would then just do the same thing. Many times I'd nip out the bud as soon as it emerged to force the plant to focus on growing more foliage. I didn't want to lose it. It was always on the edge of exactly that happening.
Then, a few years ago, I just got so fed up, I repotted it and stuck it at the back of the bench, where I couldn't watch it closely. It was going to live or die; but, it wasn't going to get any more than my basic care to do either. Well, it didn't get watered much way back there on the bench and after about 6 months, I found it dry as a bone...and as healthy as a horse! WooHoo!
So, I took it out and enjoyed the flower it produced. Then, I fussed over it and it rotted and went downhill again. *sigh!* So, I repotted it into a 7 oz clear plastic drinking cup and hung it up next to my potting bench, right in front of the electrical panel. I did this so that it would not be overwatered, as it seemed to like being grown dry, not moist like we commonly think all Paphs want. After over a year in this little cup, which enabled me to monitor the moisture in the root zone and only water it when it was dry right to the bottom, it was doing pretty good. It began a new flower spike again. In March (3 months ago), while the bud was still way down in the leaves, I repotted this plant from the little 7 oz cup (with a diameter of less than 3"), and put it into a 6" net pot, which I hang in the same location in front of my electrical panel, next to the potting bench. I allow the mix (which is exposed to the air on top and as well, down the sides and across the bottom), to dry out completely. When that happens, the pot is very noticeably less heavy. In fact, it's downright feather light when it's dry. Allowing all this air get to the roots and only watering it when it's dry, seems to be the trick. The plant is building up growths now and it has a nice root system. I think I've found the trick with this species....finally! Water it like a Cattleya, not like a Paph!
Then, a few years ago, I just got so fed up, I repotted it and stuck it at the back of the bench, where I couldn't watch it closely. It was going to live or die; but, it wasn't going to get any more than my basic care to do either. Well, it didn't get watered much way back there on the bench and after about 6 months, I found it dry as a bone...and as healthy as a horse! WooHoo!
So, I took it out and enjoyed the flower it produced. Then, I fussed over it and it rotted and went downhill again. *sigh!* So, I repotted it into a 7 oz clear plastic drinking cup and hung it up next to my potting bench, right in front of the electrical panel. I did this so that it would not be overwatered, as it seemed to like being grown dry, not moist like we commonly think all Paphs want. After over a year in this little cup, which enabled me to monitor the moisture in the root zone and only water it when it was dry right to the bottom, it was doing pretty good. It began a new flower spike again. In March (3 months ago), while the bud was still way down in the leaves, I repotted this plant from the little 7 oz cup (with a diameter of less than 3"), and put it into a 6" net pot, which I hang in the same location in front of my electrical panel, next to the potting bench. I allow the mix (which is exposed to the air on top and as well, down the sides and across the bottom), to dry out completely. When that happens, the pot is very noticeably less heavy. In fact, it's downright feather light when it's dry. Allowing all this air get to the roots and only watering it when it's dry, seems to be the trick. The plant is building up growths now and it has a nice root system. I think I've found the trick with this species....finally! Water it like a Cattleya, not like a Paph!
