I need the secret or this plant will die!

[Dallasgarden]

About 2 months ago, I posted my disappointment that a Paph Hsinying Web x Raisin Eyes was giving me problems after failing to bloom twice. It had a spent bloom when I purchased it so I've never seen it in bloom. It's being grown under lights, has good leaf growth (I uploaded a picture last time) but when the spike gets about 6 inches high the stem shrivels and the bloom dries up. One person suggested that it was too close to the lights and getting burned. Sounded good. So, I moved it from the lights. Three weeks ago it started to spike again and yet, Monday, the beautiful bloom spike shriveled yet again and died. I'm ready to pitch this guy (even with the great leaves) with a three strike you're out mentality. It looks like some sort of fungus wilt similar to one that attacks seedings like damping off....is there some sort of rule that you don't water these guys when they start to spike? Could their be a virus in the soil that only shows up when it tries to bloom? It did occur days after a watering... it's my only Paph but I have tons of other successful orchids...I need the secret or this plant will die!

[Diane]

Are you getting water into the crown of the plant when watering? That type of paph is really an easy type and very hardy. I'm really surprised it has blasted/wilted twice. Did you take a photo of the wilted bud?

[ozorchid]

I agree with Diane, as it sounds like maybe water is lodging in the axils and rotting the buds. Admittedly, perhaps you are being careful and not allowing water in the crown, thus perhaps it is the roots that are going to God!!?? personally I find that weak roots and being kept to wet can sometimes cause bud drop. I have not had that problem and i grow hundreds of Paphs, but to me maybe it sounds like the roots and overall vigour below soil could be the culprit. Yeah, sure they do put out new leaves on meagre root systems, but all of that comes at a cost and usually it is the flowering that gets thrown to one side.
Over watering and feeding whilst plants are coming into bloom can affect performance also I find. I keep mine fairly dry and water once per week whilst they are flowering. They do however experience quite humid conditions in the glass house thus the need to water is minimised.
What to tell ya??, some orchids are just temperamental and a nuisance at times and this sounds like one of them. I am all for perseverance, but when one of mine starts to do stuff like that...it goes to the green bin on an extended holiday!!!! he he he...
I don't have time for moody Paphs. and will try over and over to get them going but when push comes to shove...the ones that do well stay, the others...bye bye.
Not saying you should do that, but give yours another shot and re-pot and drench in fungicide and keep it a tad dryer for next couple of weeks. Try it, and remember not to fertilise it for a while.
Good luck and hope this may help.
Cheers

[Dallasgarden]

Diane, I water by plunging and it didn't get anything in the crown. it has fantastic roots. When I gently tug on the plant it is firmly attached. This is the third time that the bud stem has collapsed. The plant still has the set of leaves for (and the dead spike!) for all three attempts. I would think that if it was overwatered, I would be experiencing yellow dropping leaves...however, I did feed it last week along with my other orchids. Perhaps they really do need to stay dry (with no feed) when spiking, but that seems fussy to me! I only water once a week and actually skipped a week when it first started budding and waited until the moss was dry before watering again. It's getting closer to the garbage pile!

[Diane]

Well a plant can be 'glued' into it's pot by dead roots - I would pull it out and give it fresh medium, probably not moss, but fine bark with a little moss mixed in. If all else fails, you can join the rest of us, who all have sent many a plant to the compost pile!

[Dallasgarden]

Okay, I just repotted it. When I took it out I didn't see any brand new roots, but the roots it had were thick and plump and snapped when broken. I used pure fine bark and will give it one more round! I'll let you know in a few months if it makes it or not!