Paph. niveum 2021

[papheteer]

Average flower. But a fantastic grower. Always giving me 2 spikes with 2 flowers each! Been with me for a while.

The white residue on leaves is from castille liquid soap i added when i foliar feed.

 

[CarlG]

What does the soap do?

 

[papheteer]

What does the soap do?

Helps with surface tension so the foliar feed penetrates the leaves better. Just a few drops per litre. Sort of deters spider mites as well. Haven’t seen them since I started adding it.

 

[Paphtrick]

Looks so good and healthy! Do you mind explaining foliar feed? It's the first time i hear about it @papheteer

 

[papheteer]

Looks so good and healthy! Do you mind explaining foliar feed? It's the first time i hear about it @papheteer

I just mix whatever fertilizer I use, in this case miracle gro, in a sprayer and add a few drops of castille soap. Spray that whole plant and that’s that. I make sure to do right when I open the lights so that the plants are dry when the lights go off. Or else there’s a risk of rot especially with these brachy types.

 

[papheteer]

I fertilize very very lightly. 1/8 tsp per gallon of water both for foliar and root watering.

 

[Paphtrick]

I fertilize very very lightly. 1/8 tsp per gallon of water both for foliar and root watering.

Additional to fertilizing the growing medium? Is it worth a try?

 

[papheteer]

Additional to fertilizing the growing medium? Is it worth a try?

Yes. I fertilizing every time I water.
Foliar feeding may add a little benefit for culture. But not a lot. Even media fertilizing is just a tiny percentage of the equation. Lighting, watering, media, air flow are by far more important.

 

[papheteer]

Btw this is what works for me, under my conditions. It may or may not work for other people. But it’s good to try new things!

 

[TyroneGenade]

Super plant. You gotta self it.

 

[papheteer]

Super plant. You gotta self it.

You think? Flower quality is not that good though! Maybe if I had a better flower crossing it with this will result with decent flowers and good vigour!

 

[werner.freitag]

nice niveum !

What does the soap do?

neutral soaps are sold as spreader for pesticides and fertilizers to ge better surface wetting
I use it for this purpose

 

[SlipperKing]

You can send that "average " niveum my way anytime!
Are you growing in an organic mix or not?

 

[papheteer]

You can send that "average " niveum my way anytime!
Are you growing in an organic mix or not?

I love this average niveum to bits! I prefer good growing plants over award quality blooms. Both would be nice though!

Fir bark with some perlite and charcoal. I don’t have any luck with inorganic mixes. It gets too “cool” for brachies under my conditions. No luck with orchiata too. But I think the pot is more roots than bark at this time. Haven’t repotted in about 3 years

 

[SlipperKing]

Good to hear.
I had a friend in the early 2000s that wasn't a great grower and he always moved his plants outside for the summer. Squirrels were a problem for him, knocking plants everywhere. Bottom line he had this beautifully grown Psyche in a plastic pot with nothing but Styrofoam peanuts after squirrels worked it over. Put it in bark mix and down hill it would go.

 

[papheteer]

Good to hear.
I had a friend in the early 2000s that wasn't a great grower and he always moved his plants outside for the summer. Squirrels were a problem for him, knocking plants everywhere. Bottom line he had this beautifully grown Psyche in a plastic pot with nothing but Styrofoam peanuts after squirrels worked it over. Put it in bark mix and down hill it would go.

Poor Psyche! I have a big brachy that's growing in pure moss. Go figure! I intend to repot it soon but scared that it may not take well to fir bark!

 

[troy]

I'd pluck off those squirrels......

 

[DrLeslieEe]

You think? Flower quality is not that good though! Maybe if I had a better flower crossing it with this will result with decent flowers and good vigour!

Well average or not, I would like a division hehe.

 

[papheteer]

Well average or not, I would like a division hehe.

ohhhh but it's not an album!

you are first on the list!

 

[DrLeslieEe]

ohhhh but it's not an album!

you are first on the list!

Yayyyy awesome thanks! Sometimes non-albums sneak into my collection lol.