What is a good first time paph?

When you talk about water quality being good, I have seen people talking about RO water on the forum before and I was also interested to see the posts relating to the use of old water from fish tanks. I was wondering if this is sufficient? We use RO water for our fish, but I wasn't sure if you would need to add anything to the RO water, to sort of make up for the lack of minerals.

Thanks

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Kerry
Getting obssessed and loving every minute of it....

Discus require very good water quality! so I would think the RO water is excellent from them for orchids because its not very salty, and it contains nutrients too. Just don't give them the fish poop... I do wonder if the RO water collects some minerals from the pebbles in the tank.
Phrag besseae! These are the compact phrags I have: Phrag Waunakee Sunset, Phrag schlimii, Phrag pearcei and Phrag Ecua-Bess(really similar to Phrag Olaf Gruss). Phrag schlimii is a species that gives pink blooms and hybrids, and is also compact. I will get a Phrag Scarlet O'Hara eventually. Phrag warscewiczianum (aka Phrag popowii) is a compact long petalled species I have

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Fren
Orchidacea are the largest and most diverse of the Angiospermae, and includes 800 genera and 30 000 species

A really easy, and very compact Phrag. species is Phrag. fischeri. It requires MUCH less water than any of my other Phrag. species, and is the easiest I have...

My Phrag. fischeri

-Pat

...I've gotta get phrag fischeri too! It is a must have as well.

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Fren
Orchidacea are the largest and most diverse of the Angiospermae, and includes 800 genera and 30 000 species

THANKS PAT!!! Just when I thought I REALLY didn't want or need any more phrags. Especially after I received my armeniancum today.

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Steven

In Flower/Bud:
Phal Aurelia Franklin peloric, Paph Magic Lantern, Paph philippinense, Phal Leopard Prince x Brother Danseuse

and a few others too.

Low Bud/spike?

I must admit, I added fischeri to my list as well after deciding not to hold the fact that its pink against it's LOVELY shape and rave review from Pat. (so, I second the "thanks pat!") LOL

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MtEquine

Well I have done it, here are my two paph-lings. They have both got a couple of new growths on the plant, but aren't very big.

I took your advice Fren! The vendor told me that this Maudiae were just opening, so I hope he is right - will be cross if they are on their way out!!!!



I don't think they liked the trip home though

Paph chamberlain x philippinense



I know Diane, you told me that philippinense are slow growers, but I really wanted a sequential grower! And I did like the look of this one too...

Poor old Mr Kerry could only take so much, it's just as well that i am going back tomorrow with my parents... Maybe there are more in my future

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Kerry
Getting obssessed and loving every minute of it....

Lovely paphs and excellent choice. The colour on both of them are very charming.

The chamberlain x philippinense looks like it is blooming as a true multifloral (all blooms at once) rather than a sequential one. Wow this one is brightly coloured! It is registered as Paph Helvetia.
Todd's Judge Philip (Pinocchio x philippinense), a similar cross, bloomed as a sequential multiforal.

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Fren
Orchidacea are the largest and most diverse of the Angiospermae, and includes 800 genera and 30 000 species

They are lovely, Kerry. Hurrah for Paphs!

I'm planning on dragging Mr E with me to Chelsea and an orchid show in Tatton Park this summer and while he's normally quite good and doesn't mind I think I'll assign the task of picture taking to him so he feels involved and is not too bored.

Hope you had a good time!

Thank you so much! I have been dancing around a bit, and keep going in the kitchen to check on them. A bit sad really

The Helvetia (thanks for giving him his name) has a new bud growing, and the bottom flower is looking more than a little wrinkled and kind of on the way out. I assumed it was sequential, and that the new blooms opening just coincided with the old ones dying off. Would this mean that true sequential bloomers only have one bloom at a time, and go onto form a new bud once the old bloom fades? Sorry to be 'little miss question time' but I might as well ask.

Thanks!

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Kerry
Getting obssessed and loving every minute of it....