Hi, I was wondering whether I potted these babies too soon. They came in a compot of 6 seedlings of Paph Wolterianum. They are still small, but the compot had alot of green algae (?) on the sides and much of the spaghum moss on the top was also a green/black color. I didn't like the look of it, so I repotted the seedlings into 4 different pots. (3 in one pot, and the larger ones in individual pots) This is what the original pot looked like.

http://pic17.picturetrail.com:80/VOL796/117745/519734/94852149.jpg

So, I don't know whether it was too soon or even necessary to repot the seedlings, I just thought that they would rot in that medium.

Also, one of the seedlings was a bit strange. Please see the pic. It looks like one seedling grew on top of another seedling. It is like two plants attached to each other. Should I eventually try to separate them and attempt to get the larger top seedling to grow roots? Also, when I repotted it, I covered the roots in medium just to the bottom of the new little growth on the bottom. Is this correct?

http://pic17.picturetrail.com:80/VOL796/117745/519734/94852159.jpg

Thanks! As a real newbee/wannabee, I appreciate the advice!
Susan

Hi, Susan!

I have never dealt with compots/flasking but I think you did the right thing. Hope people with more compot and flask experience can shed more light. :) Just out of curiosty, are you keeping all those same plants or selling or trading them in the future?

Hi Pete,

Actually, I haven't thought that far ahead about selling them. For the time being, I just want to make sure that these babies grow up into healthy plants! I realize this will take years. I will probably try to sell or trade a few of them in the future; that is if they survive. (':?')

Is it "normal" for newbees like me to be more attracted to species instead of hybrids? Or is this a passing phase?

Susan

I think it is more of a personal preference. For me, I have always prefered species to hybrids from the very beginning since I started growing orchids (mostly slippers :lol: ) but I do have very few hybrids that I can't live without.

Is it "normal" for newbees like me to be more attracted to species instead of hybrids? Or is this a passing phase?

Actually, I think many people start with hybrids thinking they are easier. I came around to the species side of things pretty early on though. There are some great hybrids out there, but there's no going back for me!

Actually, I'd love to have one of every species!(':evil:')

How many are they, anyway? 89? (':?:')

Best,
Susan

I love mutilfloral Paphs so I have almost all the mutlifloral species in my collection. :-dance: The ones I don't have so far are gigantifolium, anitum and the lowii aureum. There are a couple more out there but not interested in getting those. I also have most of the Phrag species in my collection and I'll get a kovachii seedling whenever they are available, hopefully soon. Oh, I don't have a fischerii and may get one someday.

Sounds to me like you did the right thing.

If you like, have a look at my post in the "re-compotting" thread where I posted several photos of plants being compotted and re-compotted.

In that post you will see some Paph Well Done x Norito Hasegawa that are in their own pots but that have TINY leaf spans. They got their own pots, however, because those plants each had a few good active roots- as does the plant you photographed.

The purpose of compots is to ensure even moisture for the seedlings- beyond that it is more a convenience for the grower. Now there may well be complex natural reasons why the little ones should be together for a while, but the moisture issue is the only actual (and quite valid and important) reason I know of why compots are good for the plants themselves.

So, as long as the plants are remaining properly moist you can go right from flask to single pots! All depends on the roots in my opinion. Once there are a few roots to reach out and capture moisture, the plant is ready for its own pot.

By putting 3 of the plants in one pot- you have done a good thing that a lot of us do with smaller plants out of compot. It is one good interim step when you have too few plants for a full compot and you feel the plants are not yet ready for their own pot. Just keep an eye on the pot if it is a smaller pot size than the former compot since more frequent watering may be needed.

As for sphagnum turning green/black- I have had NZ sphag spring to life before when I was using it in sealed containers to root very tiny Paphs that come out of flask with few roots (protocorms with a leaf or two)- and in a matter of days the moss had overtaken the plants. Add in some black coloration and you might have dying moss or some sort of algae growth.

I have no idea if these things are bad in the end (aside from live moss smothering the plants), but why risk it? I think you were right to get those plants out of that moss. I am not too keen on baby Paphs in moss anyway- better to use a mix that dries out faster so you have more control over moisture regulation.

As for the unusual growth of the plant you pictures- that is not out of the ordinary. I posted one here recently that was really out of control! Someone mentioned the term- I think it was "etoliation" or something like that.

Point being, the plant is fine. You were right to pot it up to the base of the current set of leaves. Do not separate it along the stem as that is all one plant there.

However, those "new growths" at the bottom are most likely a couple of very tiny plants that are just starting to get going. I would suggest you either unpot the plant and take those off to put in their own pot- or repot the plant with the lower base at soil level instead of the top.

If you do repot, you will have to watch the plant closely to ensure that new roots growing from where the base is sticking out are getting enough water- but it greatly increases the chances of those 2 tiny plants pulling through.

I actually have a plant like that right now- a PEOY x roth that had a tiny one attached to its side from compot. I kept them together in single pot and the tiny plant now has a 2 inch leaf span. I will separate them in a couple of months. I am not sure the little one would have made it if I had yanked it away from its brother and let it fend for itself.

Hope this helps and good luck! You have a nice cross there. Let me know if you ever want to trade 1 or 2 for some of my new stuff in single pots.

Hi There!

Thank you for all the information. I will definitely check out your posting on the "re compotting" thread. I guess I did not explain myself very well when I described how I repotted the unusual little seedling. I actually did put only the roots into the growing media, so the tiny baby growth or extra plant at the base, at the root line, is above the media. The plant looks weird, however. Like one plant is on top of another.

I ended up potting the little plants in 2 1/4" clear pots. I like seeing what is going on inside of the pot, and eventually will end up switching to clear pots. What I did for media was to save the moss that looked OK and mixed it with cork bark, as fine as I could get it. The seedlings are now in an aquarium with a bunch of mostly larger seedlings. I have gravel on the bottom to retain moisture, and a lower wattage grow light providing warmth & not-so-bright-lighting. So far, the plants seem happy and I notice they are glossy, getting bigger, and are putting out new leaves. My only regret is just that the tank cannot hold any more seedlings. :twisted:


When I have better light, I'll post a photo of the repotted seedling so you can see what I did.


Thanks Again for the info!:D

Susan

The seedlings look healthy enough. I would say if you are getting that much green and blue/green algae then you have an excess of nitrogen in the system. For the most part there is probably nothing to worry about, but some blue/green algaes can produce some noxious chemicals that are hard one other species.