Every year the same: bud is dying

Ricky · Apr 19, 2011

My P. vietnamense is growing very well. Every year a new bud comes out, reaches about 10 cm lenght and than stop growing.
Than the leaves of a new shoot came out and the bud is dying:

I thought that the root maybe in a bad condition but they look perfect:

What am I doing wrong?

Greetings from Germany in spring ... Ricky

Marc · Apr 19, 2011

I can't give any advice but that would surely make me cry.

I hope that some of the more experienced growers here can help you out.

I must compliment you on the roots that the plant has though.

Shiva · Apr 19, 2011

Could it be too much fertilizer? Especially nitrogen? If so, that may send the message to the plant that it should abort flowering and start a new growth.

JeanLux · Apr 19, 2011

The foliage of mine is darker!!! Maybe too much light/direct sun? Jean

SlipperKing · Apr 19, 2011

Are you growing under lights?

Ricky · Apr 19, 2011

SlipperKing said:
Are you growing under lights?

Yes, under fluorescent light (daylight type) at about 6000 lux in a terrarium at 60-80% RH and room temperature (18-23°C in winter, 20-30° in midsummer).

Could it be too much fertilizer?

It get the same fertilizer than all other paphs and they are doing well. This is the only one where the buds are dying.

Shiva · Apr 19, 2011

According to the culture indications in Orchidwiz, this species grow at an average night temp between 8-11°C in winter. It should also grow drier in winter with little or no fertilizer until the new growth start. The humidity level is right. It may be that your vietnamense needs a really cool period in winter in order to flower. Hope this help.

Ernie · Apr 19, 2011

Vietnamense hasn't done the 'stall then blast' thing for us yet. Malipoense and armeniacum do this and I can usually trace it to something environmental- too cool, too hot, too dry, not humid enough... Plus the long time it takes for them to fully elongate the spike opens them up to such issues compared to plants that send out a spike and mature it rapidly. From the plant, it does look a bit on the pale side. I'd juice it up with some Cal Mag (vietnamense does like calcium and magnesium in its diet).

quietaustralian · Apr 19, 2011

Which pic is closest to the actual colour of the leaves? On seeing the first pic I thought you may be growing it to bright. I have seen that others on this forum have flowered these in warm tropical conditions but I do wonder if the plants are being pushed to hard to remain in growth.
Our house is within 15kms of where vietnamense was first discovered. Winter minimums are as low as +- 4C and are very dry. Summer the temps can get up to the high 30s, 36-38 C. We grow our vietnamense under shade cloth and the plants experience the extremes of weather mentioned above.
Regards, Mick

Ricky · Apr 19, 2011

quietaustralian said:
Which pic is closest to the actual colour of the leaves?

The 2nd one from today, the color of the leaves depends on the light color and the light direction.

Howzat · Apr 19, 2011

I also have the same comment on the lights. Leaves aren't dark enough for a vietnamense. Maybe too bright. So try for one year with reduced lux, say 4-5000lux??.

NYEric · Apr 19, 2011

The leaves are very light for vietnamense. Also, are you misting the plant?

Ricky · Apr 19, 2011

NYEric said:
The leaves are very light for vietnamense. Also, are you misting the plant?

No, my paphs never. The leaves always stay dry to prevent rot.

Ricky · Apr 19, 2011

Thank you all for your advices. I will keep the plant cooler with lower light in another terrarium.

Eric Muehlbauer · Apr 19, 2011

At least you can keep it alive. I just lost another one.

NYEric · Apr 19, 2011

Ricky said:
No, my paphs never. The leaves always stay dry to prevent rot.

Maybe too dry = heat stress!

cnycharles · Apr 19, 2011

plants that live in extremes depend on cold nights or seasons to allow the plant to create and then store energy. if it doesn't get cool then the plant uses up it's energy. armeniacums are in a climate like this, though some people have been able to grow them quickly in home environments. arm's environment from what i've seen from here is cold and bright in winter, so it can create energy (bright light) but store it up (cool temps)

fibre · Apr 20, 2011

The elder leaves are absolutely not green/dark enough, but the colour of the starter looks all right. That means that it isn't a problem of light. So I think feeding isn't all right and the starter has to eat the old leaves. I would try to reduce the acid in the potting mix and give much more lime to that plant. I would add limestones to the mix, 1/4 to 1/2 of the bark.
Hope this helps.

Erythrone · Apr 20, 2011

Do you spray pesticides?

Ricky · Apr 20, 2011

Do you spray pesticides?

Not on this plant.

I would try to reduce the acid in the potting mix ...

It´s in lava now, we will see. My fertilizer has additional Ca and Mg.

Every year the same: bud is dying

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