advice sought on newly purchased Paphiopedilum tranlienianum

[BrucherT]

I picked up this little P. tranlienianum at Hausermann’s last month; it looked healthy and the price was right.

It’s out of quarantine now and I’m thinking about repotting. As you can see, it’s potted in straight sphagnum.

My inclination is to repot it into seeding bark mix with extra pumice, charcoal and limestone chips, or a Japanese Cymbidium kanuma/pumice mix but I wanted to gauge expert opinions here; have I missed something? Is growing P. tranlienianum in straight sphagnum, like, a thing? I do see one apparently nice root circling… please advise?

 

[Tom-DE]

I have had my two-growth seedling for six months...The seedling bark mix (with extra sponge rocks, charcoals, and some chicken grits) works fine for me... I grow it I/W side by side with my helenae on the south-facing windowsill among some of my Brachys seedlings, kinda bright....small pot. I think both helenae and tranlienianum grow cooler and drier in their natural habitats in winter.
Crazy Tony posted a nice one not long ago, not sure if he gave out any culture tips...

Just by looking at your hand, your plant is so much bigger than my little seedling, nice buy!

 

[BrucherT]

I have had my two-growth seedling for six months...The seedling bark mix (with extra sponge rocks, charcoals, and some chicken grits) works fine for me... I grow it I/W side by side with my helenae on the south-facing windowsill among some of my Brachys seedlings, kinda bright....small pot. I think both helenae and tranlienianum grow cooler and drier in their natural habitats in winter.
Crazy Tony posted a nice one not long ago, not sure if he gave out any culture tips...

Just by looking at your hand, your plant is so much bigger than my little seedling, nice buy!

Thank you! I’m hopeful about it. $35.

Wondering why my posts aren’t appearing in the daily roundups

 

[big923cattleya]

For a large number of slipper growers, sphagnum moss works well as a media. I started out growing in bark mixes and have always done well with them. I change the percentages of the components on occasion but that is a matter of personal preference.
I do not worry about any plant growing well, just those that grow poorly.
Keep in mind that many newly imported plants are shipped bare root. Dollar for dollar it is the easiest media to use. It saves a lot of time.

 

[BrucherT]

For a large number of slipper growers, sphagnum moss works well as a media. I started out growing in bark mixes and have always done well with them. I change the percentages of the components on occasion but that is a matter of personal preference.
I do not worry about any plant growing well, just those that grow poorly.
Keep in mind that many newly imported plants are shipped bare root. Dollar for dollar it is the easiest media to use. It saves a lot of time.

Aw thank you. I know lots of folks use sphagnum very happily but I only use it as a rooting/recovery medium, as an additive or as a mulch. I don’t know tranlienianum’s parameters yet. I’ve never bought any Paphiopedilum from Hausermann’s that came in just sphagnum and am just very intrigued as to why. That same day, and from a very nearby spot, I snagged P. druryi “Birchwood x self” that’s potted in regular Hausermann’s bark mix.

I’ll probably repot the tranlienianum in bark with limestone and charcoal but I’m also considering a kanuma/pumice Jensoa Cymbidium mix. I’ll dive into other tranlienianum posts and refresh my understanding of what folks are using successfully.

 

[mSummers]

I grow mine in bark with no issues.

 

[FrankRC]

In my experience, all Vietnamese Paphs do well in clay pots with a big, open medium. We use Orquiata at ~ 75% with number 4 perlite at ~25%. Like helenae, this species rots easily if you're not careful. Let the plant get almost dry between waterings and then give them a healthy watering with fertilizer at ~20% strength.

Canh has some spectacular photos in his book. You won't find accumulated moss or any indication that this species wouldn't otherwise like to dry out after a strong rain.

Best,

 

[CharlesD]

A lot of paphs I find that are resold are often potted in moss more for convenience than anything else. I wouldn’t consider it unless you are experienced growing paphs in moss. I avoid it. I’d say put in bark mix of your choice. I don’t think these guys are that tricky to grow

 

[BrucherT]

I grow mine in bark with no issues.

Thank you! I am repotting today.

 

[BrucherT]

A lot of paphs I find that are resold are often potted in moss more for convenience than anything else. I wouldn’t consider it unless you are experienced growing paphs in moss. I avoid it. I’d say put in bark mix of your choice. I don’t think these guys are that tricky to grow

Thank you! I am relieved to hear this. I do have some recovering stuff in sphagnum but to grow just one Paphiopedilum in sphagnum in my fairly large collection would be problematic.

 

[BrucherT]

In my experience, all Vietnamese Paphs do well in clay pots with a big, open medium. We use Orquiata at ~ 75% with number 4 perlite at ~25%. Like helenae, this species rots easily if you're not careful. Let the plant get almost dry between waterings and then give them a healthy watering with fertilizer at ~20% strength.

Canh has some spectacular photos in his book. You won't find accumulated moss or any indication that this species wouldn't otherwise like to dry out after a strong rain.

Best,

I guess I need Mr. Cahn's book.. what is his book?

 

[lori.b]

I have a multiple growth tranlienianum that I purchased as a seedling ten years ago. I grow it at the back of my lowest shelf on my light stand along with henryanum and barbigerum. It doesn't seem to like high light and certainly not midday sun. I'd suggest getting it out of that sphagnum moss as others suggested. The roots need to have some air around them, otherwise they rot. I use Orchiata power mixed with perlite and pumice and I sprinkle a little Orchiata classic on top to fill in the larger gaps at the top of the pot. I don't add any extra calcium because I fertilize most often with MSU and CalMag. It likes to be a bit drier in the winter but wants to be kept moist (not wet) in the summer. Hope that helps. Your plant looks very healthy.

 

[Rockbend]

I've grown and bred them for a long time - medium-fine bark mix in a plastic pot works for me!

 

[IvoPhal]

Just to warn you about akadama and kanuma. I have several bonsais and I’m repotting each spring. I water every day from march to October and in 1 year akadama is mud, dust can suffocate the roots.
I planted some dendrobiums in pure akadama no success, too water retentive medium. Pumice is stable although and retains more water than lava rock.
So, you can play with pumice and lava rock, I mean 1:1 for example. The size of particles is important too.