Hi All

Who knows how to grow this specie the right way? light levels potting media etc

I've had a couple of those but most of them faded out with time. Furthermore there seems to be no precise description of their habitat and if they need a more alkaline media as does P. phillipinense. Some authors "claims" that they need full and strong sunlight all year round in order to bloom, I just don't believe that, finally I might not be doing that much wrong and it might just be a very diffult specie to grow because you don't see it often at exhibits or for sale.

thanks in advance

Uri Baruk France

:welcome:
It is not a common Paph species here in the US also, in fact very hard to find. However, I do have a small randsi seedling and I grow mine just like I grow all my multifloral Paph species and hybrids, lots of bright light, humidity and air flow. So far it seems to like my conditions. Very slow growing plant, I should add!

Welcome, Uri!
I got my randsii about five years ago as a mid- sized seedling. Over the first three years I gave it lower light (under flourescents). As it got a little bigger, I moved it to an area that measured 2000 to 2500 footcandles of indirect natural light.
This year I've given my randsii extra light, about 3,000 footcandles of natural light, plus it's almost directly under a 430 watt High Pressure Sodium fixture for extra light during the winter. I think I might have overdone the light and "copious amounts of water" as recommended by something I read. But it's first flower is about to open even though the leaves are way too lightly colored for my liking. It also has two more small growths started. I'll post pictures of the plant and flower once the first one opens.

Media: The plant is currently growing in a 5 inch round plastic pot, using a mix of about 70% CHC, 15% large perlite, and 15% charcoal. This mix has been retaining a little too much moisture for my liking, lately. I will either reduce the pot size if possible or increase the perlite and charcoal when I repot.

I can't put my finger on it right now, but I read that randsii is found growing in deep moss on the base of trees. This is quite different from philippinense which often is found on somewhat exposed limestone outcrops.

With this info I would expect randsii to enjoy less light and more humidity than philippinense, a somewhat acidic substrate. Maybe even a bit cooler on maximum temperatures.

Paph randsii is very closely related to philippinense and are also found growing naturally in the Philippines. They are found growing on the forest floor as terrestrials in deep decaying leaves and debris, also as lithophytes and epiphytes as well.

Well, isn't this confusing! :lol:
I take it you three have three different sources?

Well, isn't this confusing! :lol:
I take it you three have three different sources?

You don't have one, when are you getting one? :poke:

Nothing in orchids is ever black and white.

Well maybe white (Angraecums), but still no true black.

You don't have one, when are you getting one? :poke:

Well, now, not 'til y'all agree! :mrgreen:

Y'all've gotten me all askeered! LOL!

Well, now, not 'til y'all agree! :mrgreen:

Y'all've gotten me all askeered! LOL!

If you do decide to get one, I don't even know of any vendors selling randsii currently, do you know of any? I got mine from OL a few years ago. Sam might have it or Jerry may still have some, just not advertised. :confused:

Peter?

shhhhhhhhhh............
(and he still contends it his not his fault? :roll: )

Peter?

shhhhhhhhhh............
(and he still contends it his not his fault? :roll: )

:innocent:

Thanks for your responses BUT,

Is it alkaline or acidic?

Thanks for your responses BUT,

Is it alkaline or acidic?

I'm sorry that I do not have a proper meter to measure the pH for you.

Although I have not measured the pH with a meter, I'm using R/O water with a 'compete' fertilizer formula at a rate of 125 ppm N developed by Michigan Stae University. I'm assuming that this yields a slightly acidic solution.

As for the media, the Coconut husks are soaked and rinsed to remove as much salt as possible. The smell of the rinse water tells me that tannins are also being removed from the CHC during this process.

If it's in leaf litter or moss on the ground or in a tree it will be somewhat acidic .

CHC based medias without any lime or oyster shell additions are neutral to slightly acidic.

The habitat sources I dug up where out of Cribb's book and the Antec site. Neither of them discuss the "deep moss" that I mentioned earlier. (Can't find that one yet). Cribb/Antec (probably the same origional source) claim "deep leaf litter at the base of trees, possibly epiphytic". Antec has a "NO" for calcarious additions.

I tend to agree with the above (without any 1st hand experience with the plant) because it has a restricted geographic range,and is sympatric with philippinense. Philippinense is very wide rangeing and succesful at exploiting the limestone outcrops. So there is something about randsii that makes it much more specialized (picky) compared to philippinense.

They are found on Mt. Suragao (spellng?) in the same localities as adductum, anitum, and probably ciliolare. Regarding soils, you would probably want it to be acidic 6pH, and water using neutral or basic water. However, you can reverse that, and keep it in slightly basic conditions, and water using neutral or slightly acidic water (my preference.)

I wouldn't think the pH would be a problem in growing as long as it doesn't get extreme in either direction. Mine came from Rands and OL and grow as vigorously as philippinense, but like all my multiflorals it gets repotted twice a year as the roots seem a little more delicate than say rothschildianum. Bright light like all my multiflorals and cattleyas, LOTS of air movement, slight drying between waterings, and high humidity are also beneficial.
I think the main reason that you don't see it in too many shows is because the flowers almost always get dead brown spots all over them after just a couple days of being open. They are also not the most desired species for non-paphnuts. It is however, IMHO, a great parent in hybrids as it greatly increases flower count in primaries like kolopakingii does. Hope this helps a little, I got to go check my two for signs of spiking now that they've been brought up.
Jon

Rick, there is at least one orchid hybrid described by the judges as "black". Perhaps you are meaning species only.

The hybrid unamiously described as "black" by the judges is Fredclarkeara After Dark and it is a catesetum hybrid. The particular cultivar "SVO Black Pearl" earned a 93pt FCC and a 94pt CCE in January 05. The hybridizer is Fred Clark. Interesting how that naming of the cross thing works.

Fred is the same guy that is the current holder (or most recent recipient) of the Huntington award for best species, the Jusup Botanical Trophy, and the WW Wilson Cyp Award for a Paph. Harold Koopowitz (FCC).

Here are photos of "After Dark" on this photo page if you are interested. The cultivar that earned the FCC is not pictured but nine sibs are.

http://www.sunsetvalleyorchids.com/catasetumphotos.html

Probably more information than any of you all wanted but when it comes to orchid culture, I generally listen carefully to what Fred has to say!

Hi everyone,

First post so I thought I'd jump right in 8)

According to Lance Birk's revised Paph. Grower's Manual, P. randsii grows "in dense clumps on the forest floor...with roots embedded in decaying leaf mulch" which would tend to support the acidic vs. basic argument as RickL suggested.

Birk's manual also suggests the species prefers a warm-intermediate climate and bright-mod. bright light with 10-12 hours of bright light/day required for blooming.

I saw that "black" hybrid (I think in last issue of Orchid Digest). It is about the closest thing to black I've seen in an orchid. And it is an awsome flower.

OK I'll call it black. :jealous:

I think anitum and gigantifolium have black on them.

Ya and Coelogena (spell check please) pandorata has some black in its lip too.

I was trying to make a punny. You guys are goofballs.

Hello Uric,
I read you at times in the web page of our friend Tanaka.
Where a Paphiopedilum can be obtained randsii in France or Europe? Years ago that I seek it and it do not I find never
A hug from Barcelona :shock:

Hi

I don't know where to find this plant either it's no longer available in Europe
Seems that being rare equals being difficult to grow






Hello Uric,
I read you at times in the web page of our friend Tanaka.
Where a Paphiopedilum can be obtained randsii in France or Europe? Years ago that I seek it and it do not I find never
A hug from Barcelona :shock:

Hello Pere,

there's only one place to find this plant in Europe : Tonn Orchideen in germany but the price................. randsii 256,00 EUR :mad:

It's true, it's not at all an easy specie... But like you i think that is one of the most beautifull.......................

Marc

Hello Pere,

there's only one place to find this plant in Europe : Tonn Orchideen in germany but the price................. randsii 256,00 EUR :mad:

It's true, it's not at all an easy specie... But like you i think that is one of the most beautifull.......................

Marc

Hi Marc

Do I know you? 8)

yes :clap:

Flasks will be available in two years.

yes :clap:


That's what I thought Mr Marc F :D


Salutations

Salutations Mr. Uri.

Your Paphiopedilum St Swithin do very well.

Marc

See? Everyone meets at the slipper forum! :D

hehehe!

Yes It's True :clap:

Yes It's True :clap:


I'm surprised that you did not ask for my list on 54 :shock:

Oups,

in french sorry... je ne suis plus sur orchidée 54 mais je veux bien recevoir ta liste avec grand plaisir :-)


Amitiés,

Marc