Paph seedlings

[TundraKev]

This is just kind of a generic question, so please bear with me.

In the broadest sense, are paph seedlings considered more difficult to raise than most other orchids? It seems like I've heard people say this before, but maybe it's just wishful thinking.

Yes, I have a few paph seedlings that I've kind of been kind of struggling with the past year or so. Nothing has up and croaked yet. It just seems like it's always 2 steps forward, one back.

I would just like to hear some comments from people who have dealt with these pups.

[LJA]

Well, I think they're more difficult, definitely. At least for me, they seem to be a lot more finicky than other things, most notably the first 6 months out of flask.

I'm saying this in the same broad, general sense that you asked the question though, since some of these guys (notably Maud crosses that you can take from flask to bloom in 2-3 years) grow like gangbusters and aren't any trouble at all. It's the slower-growing multiflorals that I have problems with, since they stay in their finicky stage for a whole lot of time longer.

So when you say Paph seedlings, what kind? How big were they when you got them?

[TundraKev]

I'm not really a total paph person, so offhand basically all hybrid stuff. I would have to go outside and check names and I don't feel like doing that right now.

They were all probably under an inch leafspan.

I think my biggest problem is roots. They just don't seem to want to go beyond that 'one little straight root' stage. At least they seem very slow to do so. A couple of them seem to be growing leaves a bit faster right now, so maybe I've just been too impatient. I did some repotting this week and was really hoping for more root growth on these. It just wasn't there.

It's kind of funny because I got a big one in a trade about a year ago. When I took it out of its pot there were only a couple of little sticks for roots. That one has totally recovered. The pot was crammed with nice hairy roots.

[Gin]

I have to agree , the ones I have were the same way ,They were one rooters , I recieved 2 from a friend ,both mulitflorals , they finally took off when they put on the second growth . When little I almost wished they would croak Gin

[TundraKev]

When little I almost wished they would croak Gin

I know what you mean. This hanging on between heaven and earth is the pits.

[LJA]

Can't wish that.

The freakin things are too freakin expensive.

But I sure felt like I could wish that, really easily.

[Jmoney]

I'll let you in on a secret. Paphs don't grow roots.

[TundraKev]

Cute

[Gin]

I think Jason is serious . Oh Paph. master tell us it ain't so . Gin