New Paph Grower

[snoopy]

Hi, I'm a long time lurker. I grow paphs (and a few cymbidiums and phals) on windowsills in dull, cold Ireland. Its a miracle they survive! I grew a lot (i mean 'a lot') of cacti in my youth but had to pass them on at 18. During the covid years I got the itch to grow again and dived in with my interest in orchids. I must have a fondness for slow growers.

 

[monocotman]

Welcome from Cornwall!
You’ve come to the right place for advice,
David

 

[Ray]

Yes, indeed. Welcome to Slippertalk.

 

[big923cattleya]

A warm welcome! So good to have you.

 

[Morja]

Welcome from Idaho, USA! I bet phrags would love your temps if you have supplemental light!

 

[Skoester]

Welcome from Portland, OR, USA. I couldn’t help but laugh when I read that you used to grow cacti and are now growing orchids. I was collecting Sanseveria before moving into orchids. Both slow-growing, but what a difference in maintenance! I sometimes ask myself what I was thinking.

I joined the group last year and have found the group to be welcoming and a great source of info.

 

[Roots]

Welcome from WA state, also a dull and cold place. I am a new-to-paph and windowsill grower as well. What all are you growing on your sills?

 

[snoopy]

Thank you all for the kind welcome. Im growing a Roth and a couple of its crosses, a curtsii, Black Jack, Pinocchio types, Barbatum, niveum crosses, Black Madonna, etc. Too many to name. I recently purchased a rungsurianum which I'm really hoping I won't kill. Its very teeny weeny and I think it and its recent crosses are currently only permissable/ available in Europe. It came in the same package as a very large Stone Ground. I have some in a south east facing window and the window opposite has lights to boost the dullness. I grow Taiwanese phal hybrids and what were once called doritaenopsis. I especially like the spotted ones.

 

[Roots]

Wow! You must have huge windows and they must be very full. I had to look up doritaenopsis. I read that an awarded cultivar in 1975 had a 2.4 m inflorescence and 75 blooms. A veritable orchid tree. Hope your windowsill growers are distant cousins and not close relatives. This will be my first winter with more than 2 paphs. I am hoping to get by without supplemental light. If not, I might be looking for some advice in that arena.

 

[hkunberger]

Welcome from Virginia!

 

[JustinR]

Welcome from the Netherlands! If you are looking for a small and slow growing paph, you might want to give hangianum a try .

 

[GuRu]

Hello and a warm welcome to ST from Germany.

 

[SunsetChris]

Welcome from the Beautiful Missouri Ozarks!

 

[Duck Slipper]

Welcome to ST from Kentucky!

 

[Nancy T]

Welcome from Montreal Canada. My windows do not have much sunshine so I have grown under lights for many years. Currently, I am using LED lights and am very pleased with the growth of the plants. As I move around this site, I am very impressed with the growth of their plants and flowers that some people achieve with windowsill culture.

 

[lori.b]

Welcome from Canada's west coast where the Fraser River meets the Pacific Ocean. It's also dull and damp here for most of the year so I have a grow room where my orchids grow quite happily on light stands. You have an amazing collection already and you'll learn a lot from the good folks on this forum.

 

[southernbelle]

Hi, I'm a long time lurker. I grow paphs (and a few cymbidiums and phals) on windowsills in dull, cold Ireland. Its a miracle they survive! I grew a lot (i mean 'a lot') of cacti in my youth but had to pass them on at 18. During the covid years I got the itch to grow again and dived in with my interest in orchids. I must have a fondness for slow growers.

Welcome from VA US. I grow under lights as well (in my basement). As Ray said, you’ve hit the mother lode!!