bumps on Paph flower and twisting leaves

[kristiyates7]

Hello! This is my first paph orchid...it was a "rescue" from a local store...I have repotted it in bark, and the roots seem healthy. Since I have had it at home, the leaves have started twisting. Is there anything I can do to fix this? Should I be worried? Also, there are some bumps on the two petals...they don't seem to be growing or changing. Any advice?

[Carolla]

I don't have a ton of experience with Paphs, I only have a couple of them. However, I'm wondering if the twisting of the leaves just means the light is hitting it at a new angle and it's compensating to line up with the light? Many Paphs have bumps naturally on the petals, but I don't know if that is what is going on with yours. Basically it looks pretty good to me! Do keep an eye out for any fungus and spray with Physan or a fungicide if you see spots on the leaves. I find my Paphs are somewhat susceptible to fungus, even in my dry climate. Don't put cinnamon on roots, but you can use it on cut leaf edges to discourage rot if you ever have to cut off a bad spot. It will damage roots.

Welcome to the forum and good luck with your pretty Paph!

[sciencegal]

The leaves may be a bit dehydrated, too. Paphs like to be damp and do not like to dry out. Depending on where you live the large chunks of bark may not provide enough constant moisture for it. The blossom is pretty and will last a long time if the paph is kept moist.

[JDT]

I would agree with what has been said. Just bark alone is not a real good mix for paph's but I would not disturb what you have already done, maybe add a little sphagnum moss to the top to keep a little more moisture in the pot.

[78Terp]

Ultimately it doesn't matter about the leaves. Paphs only bloom on a growth one time and will not grow any more leaves (terminal position). It will have to grow new growths in order to bloom again. I find that after my paphs bloom and the next growths are progressing, the bloomed growth likely wilts off and goes away. So what you are really looking for are new plants popping up near the base, possibly between some of the lower leaves.

I think the bumps are normal for this bloom.

[PaphMadMan]

Mostly agreeing, bumps normal, plant dehydrated. But the implication that the health of this fan of leaves has no long term effect on the plant is short-sighted at best. These leaves should be healthy and helping support the plant through the next 2 growth cycles at least. Yes, this growth will not flower again, but the next fan of leaves and the one after that, and the flowers they may produce, depend largely on the energy these leaves should provide over the next couple years. Most healthy Paphs should become multi-growth plants; a 1-2 growth plant will never bloom as often or as beautifully. This is just a small setback so far, but get things turned around and keep those leaves healthy.

[Carolla]

Kirk, I have a Paph question - do the new growths put out roots too, or is there just the roots on the old growth to sustain the plant? I only have a couple of young Paphs, but it doesn't seem like the root out of the new growths like many other orchids. The three I have seem to be doing alright, I just want to understand them better so I know what's doing well and what's a concern...

[PaphMadMan]

Carol - Every new growth will normally produce roots. The timing varies, but sometimes may not happen until the growth is pretty mature. It could be easy to miss since Paphs don't have the very obvious aerial roots of some orchids, and often only have a few roots. If a root emerges below the top of the media and grows downward from under the growth it could easily be missed. How long have you had the plants, and have you ever repotted? Obviously that is the best time to see the roots.

[Carolla]

I have one that I've had for three years, it's been repotted (into S/H a year or so ago). I had a bad fungal problem with it, managed to take care of that, but set it back badly. The good news there is that it put out three new growths at once, though most of the old growth died off. It is blooming happily atm. yay! The new growths aren't very large, though one of them is a good size. I haven't seen any new roots, I think it had pretty good roots when I repotted. The other two are pretty new. I've had one of them for a year. It was blooming when I got it, but its pretty small - its working on a new growth atm, looks great though. The third one I just bought last month at an Orchid show. It's a nice plant and in bud! Paph Exul, looking forward to seeing it. It looks like it was repotted fairly recently. Soooo I gotta wait to mess with the new plants and the oldest one is in bloom and blooms sequentially, I don't want to disburb it. Thanks!

[kristiyates7]

I got some moss to put on top of the bark in the pot. The flower died, so I cut the stem. Should I do anything else? Hopefully this paph is happy now! It looks like there might be a new growth at the bottom?