Paphiopedilum micranthum culture

[Mafate]

Hello everyone, I have given my Paphiopedilum micranthum a light rest period for some weeks in a cool and bright room, with reduced watering and no fertilizer. It has now started a new growth as you can see in the photo. At this stage of growth, can I resume watering at a normal rate and fertilizing or is it still too early?

Many thanks for your help.

 

[Tom-DE]

I would slowly increase the watering...but I would hold off the fertilizing for a little longer till the middle of March.
I just moved my armeniacum back in and the flower bud is growing fast now, and new growths too--similar culture to micranthum. I started its resting period back in late fall(end of Nov.), with light watering, 35-40F.

 

[littlefrog]

I would slowly increase the watering...but I would hold off the fertilizing for a little longer till the middle of March.
I just moved my armeniacum back in and the flower bud is growing fast now, and new growths too--similar culture to micranthum. I started its resting period back in late fall(end of Nov.), with light watering, 35-40F.

Before I froze them all a couple weeks ago I had maybe a dozen micranthum. I think the main predictor of blooming was the number of generations of line breeding. Some of the last generation from Orchid Inn would bloom twice a year... The oldest clones are the hardest to bloom. Same with armeniacum (or Roth, stonei, almost any species).

Other than keeping them outside until near frost (or after...), I never really rested them. Cooler in the winter (near the floor).

 

[Tom-DE]

Before I froze them all a couple weeks ago I had maybe a dozen micranthum. I think the main predictor of blooming was the number of generations of line breeding. Some of the last generation from Orchid Inn would bloom twice a year... The oldest clones are the hardest to bloom. Same with armeniacum (or Roth, stonei, almost any species).

Other than keeping them outside until near frost (or after...), I never really rested them. Cooler in the winter (near the floor).

I kept mine in my unheated garage (by the south-facing window) for two or three months, the temperature is around 35-45F in the garage from Dec. to March. I still water them during the "rest" period but very lightly every 2 or 3 weeks..., and I believe "winter rest" is beneficial for micranthum and armeniacum.

 

[Linus_Cello]

I kept mine in my unheated garage (by the south-facing window) for two or three months, the temperature is around 35-45F in the garage from Dec. to March. I still water them during the "rest" period but very lightly every 2 or 3 weeks..., and I believe "winter rest" is beneficial for micranthum and armeniacum.

Just pure species micranthum and armeniacum, or did hybrids of these also get winter rest?

 

[big923cattleya]

So much about orchid growing is learned by trial and error. It is getting "a feel for things" that works best. Not every thing works best for everybody. It is no where near, step one do this or step two do this. If you want to begin watering the micranthum now do it. But make a mental note about what you are trying and remember it. But I agree with Tom, bring them out of dormancy gradually, in stages. I don't think it is a good idea for the plant to experience dormancy one day and the next day it is forced out of that dormancy by more frequent watering and fertilizer.
Mafate, you really need to develop your own cultural guidelines for what ever you grow. What works best for me, Tom or Rob, or anybody might not work for you. Use all of these ideas as suggestions, guidelines and grow on. You just do not wake up one morning and BANG, you are a GREAT ORCHID GROWER! It takes time.

 

[Tom-DE]

Just pure species micranthum and armeniacum, or did hybrids of these also get winter rest?

Winter rest is just for these two species. You can keep the hybrids or the other parvi species slightly drier but not winter rest.

 

[Tom-DE]

Mafate, you really need to develop your own cultural guidelines for what ever you grow. What works best for me, Tom or Rob, or anybody might not work for you. Use all of these ideas as suggestions, guidelines and grow on. You just do not wake up one morning and BANG, you are a GREAT ORCHID GROWER! It takes time.

Mafate is a seasoned grower and he knows more than you think...

 

[Toadwally]

Before I froze them all a couple weeks ago I had maybe a dozen micranthum. I think the main predictor of blooming was the number of generations of line breeding. Some of the last generation from Orchid Inn would bloom twice a year... The oldest clones are the hardest to bloom. Same with armeniacum (or Roth, stonei, almost any species).

Other than keeping them outside until near frost (or after...), I never really rested them. Cooler in the winter (near the floor).

Makes a lot of sense.

 

[jtrmd]

I would keep micranthum and its hybrids in the cool part of my GH( under the vent) 55/50 degree winter nights and drier durning winter. They did just fine and bloomed on each new growth.

 

[Mafate]

Hello everyone, and thank you for your answers. I probably wasn't specific enough when I expressed myself, but it was quite obvious (in my head ) that I wasn't going to go from a fairly pronounced rest period to a fertilizer distribution like in the middle of the growing season. That said, I have only grown P. micranthum once in the past, about 30 years ago, at a time when I didn't know that this species needed a rest period, and I had failed in its cultivation. Today, access to information is much easier, and it is possible to benefit from the experiences of others to limit the risks, even if I know that what is valid for one is not systematically valid for another. That's why I preferred to ask. Thanks again for your help and have a good day.

 

[jtrmd]

Hello everyone, and thank you for your answers. I probably wasn't specific enough when I expressed myself, but it was quite obvious (in my head ) that I wasn't going to go from a fairly pronounced rest period to a fertilizer distribution like in the middle of the growing season. That said, I have only grown P. micranthum once in the past, about 30 years ago, at a time when I didn't know that this species needed a rest period, and I had failed in its cultivation. Today, access to information is much easier, and it is possible to benefit from the experiences of others to limit the risks, even if I know that what is valid for one is not systematically valid for another. That's why I preferred to ask. Thanks again for your help and have a good day.

I would fertilize in the cooler temps. It was cut back along with water. Never seemed to have an effect on mine.

 

[Tom-DE]

The truth is both armeniacum and micranthum are very hardy, and it is hard to kill one of those..., but blooming one might need some adjustments on your own.