Paph delenatii x micranthum

[mauraec]

Do you really think I can get it to bloom in a year? I had kind of relegated this one to the slow-track. Any suggestions on how to keep it moving along?

[Dorsetman]

pure delanatii will be white , or pink flushed - the depth of colour here comes from the other parent.

[mauraec]

I'll be delighted with any blooms at all from this little trooper; as a new grower, I have yet to bring a plant into bloom without buds/spikes already set. Do you treat your paphs with S/H? I tried a homemade version (bastardized, really, since I only left them sitting in nutrient-rich water for several hours before draining) of it last week and most of the damp-liking ones seemed pleased - of course, I'm having to be vigilant about root rot, but I think a little extra care may be warranted. Even with all the wisdom and input I get from the experienced growers, I still feel like every day is an experiment with what will keep them alive and thriving. Of course, I draw the line at talking to them, unless I drop one and become extremely annoyed....

[Dorsetman]

I have not found S/H good with Paphs. Not for any length of time - maybe OK in summer months, but noit in winter.

[mauraec]

Okay, that's clear advice.

[PaphMadMan]

S/H maybe for your Maudiae types and some other Paphs... but not for Parvisepalum Paphs like delenatii, at least not until you are proven succesful at growing them. Your delenatii can take a bit more light than the other Paphs you mentioned and will benefit from a somewhat cooler and slightly dryer rest period in the winter. Don't be afraid to boost the fertilizer a little for summer into fall, and as for all Paphs repot AT LEAST once a year.

[Joyce184]

I'll be delighted with any blooms at all from this little trooper; as a new grower, I have yet to bring a plant into bloom without buds/spikes already set. Do you treat your paphs with S/H? I tried a homemade version (bastardized, really, since I only left them sitting in nutrient-rich water for several hours before draining) of it last week and most of the damp-liking ones seemed pleased - of course, I'm having to be vigilant about root rot, but I think a little extra care may be warranted. Even with all the wisdom and input I get from the experienced growers, I still feel like every day is an experiment with what will keep them alive and thriving. Of course, I draw the line at talking to them, unless I drop one and become extremely annoyed....

I feel the same way about my paphs

[Joyce184]

Kirk/Geoff,

Are parvisepalums extremely slow growers? I'm staring at my Joyce Hasegawa right now

[mauraec]

Kirk/Geoff,

Are parvisepalums extremely slow growers? I'm staring at my Joyce Hasegawa right now

I'm not familiar with parvisepalums at all - any photos? Is is a subspecies of paph? I see the reference to the delenatii as one, but I'm still confused about the family relationships.

[Dorsetman]

Paph is currently divided into 7 sections ; space and time prevent further elucidation but it can all be found somewhere or other on the web ( look for "infrageneric treatment of the genus Paphiopedilum") if you don't have the text-books. Parvisepalum includes armeniacum, micranthum, emersonii, delenatii, and malipoense - more popularly knownb as "the new chinese species".
It is my belief that if the culture is exactly what these plants want, then they would be no slower than any other paph - maybe faster. But therein lies the rub, especially if you e - as most of us ( even paph fanatics) do, try and grow a mixed collection under one and the same conditions which will inevitably favour some and discourage others. The only ones which "ought" to take longer to flower are the very big ones , because they have further to go ! But delenatii, under conditions which suit, say, species in the Barbata section ( the so-called "maudiae" types - after the most famous hybrid of them all - Maudiae "Magnificent" FCC ) - can easily take ten years , whereas I have flowered out , i.e. flowered every one of the seedlings from a single flask of a primary Barbata hybrid, , in 2 years.