Can someone identify this?

[justlearning!!]

This is an orchid I rescued from my mother's rental property, and I was hoping someone could identify it based on the leaves. I've been trying to see if I could find similar leaves on orchid pics, but most pics show orchids in bloom... I'd kind of like to know what this one will look like if (ahem... I mean WHEN) it blooms!!

[LJA]

That's a Paphiopedilum, one of the "Maudiae type" hybrids in all likelihood. I don't see any reddish / purple at the base of the plant, so it will more than likely bloom out a greenish flower that looks similar to the pic here. There are so many hybrids of these out there though, that it's going to be next to impossible to pin down what the plant's exact name is.

[justlearning!!]

Thanks!! I thought someone who "knew orchids" would be able to tell what kind this was pretty easily. Wow, I hope it does look like the one in the picture!

Next question... not sure if you could see in the picture or not, but the bigger leaf on the right has a brown spot on one edge, and the tip of the leaf is turning brownish. I think this has to do with my post re: fertilizer/too much sun. Should I cut this leaf off, or leave it there? (When a leaf does need to be cut, how far down do you go? And do you have to do anything special to the "exposed" cut? I've read the other helpful posts about whether or not to sterilize, etc... but I guess I need to go all the way down to basics!)

Thank you!!

[LJA]

I can't see the spot on the pic, but brown spots generally point to a fungal infection, very common. You can try dusting the leaf with cinnamon, top and bottom, and see if that keeps the brown from spreading, or you can cut the leaf tip away with a sterile blade, about an inch below the brown area. You always cut into healthy tissue below any areas that are brown or yellowing, just to make sure you "catch" the problem.

Brown leaf tips can be fungal; they can mean burn from too much fertilizer at one time, or they can mean a plant that's being allowed to dry out too much before being rewatered. Paphs should never be allowed to dry out; given the "floppy" foliage in your pic, that may be what's happening.

So to fix this little guy, I'd cut the bad leaf tip an inch down from the spot, dust cinnamon on the cut edge, and water the plant more often so that the roots stay consistently damp, but not soggy wet. You might unpot the plant too, just to check out whether its roots are healthy.

[Piper]

Louis is right - it's definitely a paph.

Oh, I just love saying that! Makes it sound like I have to keep an eye on him so he doesn't screw up on orchid advice! hehehe!

I have a paph. philippinense x Meon with very similar leaves and no red. The Meon is a Maudiae hybrid, but the resulting flower is quite different from the alba (white and green variety - the orchid equivalent of an albino) that Louis posted.
http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchid...ead.php?t=1929
So, expect a paph, but be loose on what colors it might end up.

I can't see any brown in those leaves. They look way too healthy to remove. If the brown tip is bugging you, cut it back with sterilzed scissors and then sprinkle with cinnamon to avoid disease (a trick Louis has taught us all.) It looks like a healthy plant to me.

(Did I get it right Louis? Did I? Did I?)

Julie

[justlearning!!]

These are so pretty!! Since Louis' first reply, I've been looking at other pics and information on this site, and I'll definitely be happy with whatever color it blooms.

I have what probably sounds like another stupid question... I've been afraid of overwatering it because I can't see what's going on under the moss. Should I even be watering it from above the moss, or should I be putting the pot in a container of water to soak then removing it?

I'm going to try to cut the tip off that leaf, using your advice. Should it be cut straight across, or at a point, or does it matter?

Thanks again

[LJA]

Should I even be watering it from above the moss, or should I be putting the pot in a container of water to soak then removing it?

Either way is fine, but I would still unpot the plant to see what condition the roots are in, and to check out whether it's potted in moss all the way through, or whether the moss is just layering the top. If it's moss all the way through, the roots will stay wetter longer than if it's something else, like a bark mix, and you'll have to take that into consideration with your watering.

I'm going to try to cut the tip off that leaf, using your advice. Should it be cut straight across, or at a point, or does it matter?

It doesn't really matter, but the plant will look better if you make the cut in a "V" shape following the outline of the leaf.

[maegg]

Just have to throw my .02 in on this one. I grow a lot of paphs and the first thing that struck me about the photo is that the plant looks to be in direct sunlight. Then the floppiness of the leaves starting screaming at me that the plant was thirsty.... yes I am a plant whisperer lol.

I grow all my paphs in clay pots too. That pot may be a little big for that plant. They tend to like being in smaller pots. What is the media under the moss? I use spagnum on top but I never put it around the base of the plant so it doesn't have the opportunity to stay moist on the base of the plant which could cause rot. I put it on top around the plant but about an inch out so it doesn't touch. It helps hold some moisture in. If you have a well draining media, you can water daily to every other day. Just stick a qtip in there and see how dry it is. Paphs don't like to go bone dry. I just killed a new sheath on a paph macabre because temps hit the 90's and I didn't water that day.... darn picky plants!!!! Worse than my kids at needing attention

When I cut leaves I tend to use scissors dipped in listerine then I seal the cut with cinnamon. It's worked so far for me. Good luck and let us know when that plant blooms out. I tend to agree with the others.... it is probably a green maudie type. Although my paph macabre doesn't have purple at the base and it is one of the black paphs. I have a hybrid that looks similar to yours with the dark green vini colored leaves. It has purple at the base though.

[justlearning!!]

After reading about the light requirements for these yesterday, I began to think that where I have this one is definitely not a good place for it. The window has a southern exposure, so the poor thing has been getting direct sun since I took it home. The only eastern facing windows I have are my kids' rooms, which would NOT be a good place for it... I can see it now, one of the kids grabbing it and hitting the other one on the head when they're pretending to wrestle WWE style! I'm going to try moving it across the room to see if that helps.

I've been reading the "how-to's" and advice on here, and I'm still trying to gather the courage to unpot it and take a look in there Even though I'm scared to do it, I would feel better taking a look at the roots and making sure it's not too dry or soggy in there.

Again, thanks for everyone's help!

[Piper]

Living in northern New England, I wouldn't worry as much about sun exposure. It's much less strong here than it is further south, and plants will tolerate considerably more. I find my paphs are happiest with more direct sun than I ever would have thought.

I feel sort of like Bagger Vance. He said we each have within us our "one true game". It's up to us to discover what it is. Well, within each of our orchids lies that "one true set of growing conditions" that particular plant desires. They give us feedback, if we know how to understand it.

Too little light for paphs and they'll grow in super slow motion. Too much and the leaves will get very light green or even sunburn. Hard to tell from your picture, but the color seems fine. I wouldn't sweat the exposure. Come mid-summer you might want to shield the plant from the strongest noon-time rays, but I don't think you have a problem.

The leaves do look floppy, as Maegg noted, suggesting more water. The roots are the only way to confirm that. If you check them, soak the plant for about 10 minutes first. That will soften the roots and make them less likely to break. Be careful! I've found paph roots among the most fragile. Don't be afraid to repot, just handle the plant delicately, and don't try and force potting material off if it stubbornly clinging. Just work patiently and keep rinsing the roots until you've removed most of the cling-ons.

Good luck!
Julie