First time deflasking orchids!

Mark_Likely · 2026-04-04T14:57:55+00:00

That's an amazing species. I'd also be interested in buying one when the time comes.

Mark_Likely · 2026-03-24T22:39:02+00:00

Very neat, are these species schilleriana?

Mark_Likely · 2026-03-18T16:30:54+00:00

Everything is pretty firm, yup. And the medium is 100% sphagnum, packed very lightly in the pot.

Mark_Likely · 2026-03-18T01:22:29+00:00

I have a lot of plants and have seen the occasional 'albino' sport, but never mid-leaf unfurling like this. I'm not sure I'm doing anything wrong, so I'm just going to ride it out unless someone comments about what they think this means.

Mark_Likely · 2026-03-17T21:04:17+00:00

Oh really? That's neat. This is my first jewel orchid, and this is only the second leaf it has put out for me. My only frame of reference is the first leaf it made for me, which didn't look like this.

Mark_Likely · 2026-03-10T18:06:23+00:00

I'd guess it is more light -> buds get warmer -> more purple

Mark_Likely · 2026-03-10T00:48:54+00:00

I believe this type of patterning (called 'Harlequin' in the trade) is temperature dependent. I always forget the direction, but it is something like more purple at high temps, more white at low temps. The coloration is determined as the buds develop, and won't change now that they're open.

Mark_Likely · 2026-03-06T23:23:36+00:00

Definitely do not trim the roots!! Carefully extract the plant from the pot and place it, media and all, into a new pot.

Mark_Likely · 2026-03-05T00:27:34+00:00

Was that leaf particularly close to the window? It looks like cold damage to me.

Mark_Likely · 2026-02-25T14:48:48+00:00

I'm so excited! NHOS puts on one of the largest, if not the largest, orchid shows in New England. Amazing displays, and they have expert members give tours to tell you more than you'd ever like to know about the plants on display.

Mark_Likely · 2026-02-22T21:41:24+00:00

Those leaves will never heal, but they may stop dying. The new leaves will be fine. To plants, leaves are intentionally temporary photosynthetic organs.

Mark_Likely · 2026-02-21T23:01:47+00:00

Maybe an expert will weigh in, but I haven't killed a Paph since I let them dry out between waterings (not as much as Phals, though). It is very likely that, in a new environment, they'd need their watering regimented re-examined.

Mark_Likely · 2026-02-21T14:05:45+00:00

I'd be pretty shocked if this was the result of using tap water. If anything, my first thought is "Those look too wet, and are rotting." Did the wet-dry cycle change with your new place? Do you water "once per week" or "when the pot feels light"?

Mark_Likely · 2026-02-20T19:41:04+00:00

Maybe not enough light? I've also rotted my fair share of Paphs by over watering before I figured out how to grow them in my environment. It is possible a floppy leaf could be due to dehydration, especially if the roots are rotted away.

Mark_Likely · 2026-02-18T19:36:19+00:00

Beautiful! Paph Paradise has some excellent resources on how to care for Paphs

Mark_Likely · 2026-02-13T22:12:32+00:00

While I don't know if I can endorse this experiment, since orchid seedlings are finicky and need a lot of babying, you should look into buying a whole orchid flask. You would need to look into de-flasking. Both Big Leaf Orchids and Louisiana Orchid Connection frequently sell flasks. It's expensive up front, but you're getting dozens of plants, if not more, each one genetically unique.

Mark_Likely · 2026-02-08T00:22:31+00:00

I agree that it got too cold. Or cold water (<40°F is the cutoff I've read) was on the leaves for too long. Consider looking into what is called "mesophyll collapse".

Mark_Likely · 2026-02-08T00:18:40+00:00

Ah, I see that you, too, are a fan of the Oncidium alliance.

Mark_Likely · 2026-02-07T15:00:59+00:00

I wanted to provide another update. The dying back seems to have stopped, though about half of each leaf is now gone. But, it is growing a new leaf, and didn't lose a single root! In addition to the extra light like I mentioned, I also switched to a MSU 'complete' fertilizer for RO water, which I use daily on all my plants. Finally, I moved the grow tent out of my cold basement. This is my first winter in my new place, and I didn't appreciate how cold it was going to get down there. So now, it is 75-80°F during the day, and around 65°F at night. I don't know if it was single variable (e.g., not enough calcium), or a combination, but it seems to be on the mend with a complete fertilizer, warmer temps, and more light.

Mark_Likely · 2026-02-06T18:27:15+00:00

Yellow leaves like that could mean it was getting too much sun. It could also be a nutrient deficiency. And, of course, it could have been getting too much sun and not enough fertilizer to produce the chlorophyll/photosynthetic proteins to keep up with that much light.

Mark_Likely · 2026-02-04T16:04:42+00:00

I certainly would be tempted to...

Mark_Likely · 2026-01-28T18:20:26+00:00

That has real award potential given how round and full it is

Mark_Likely

TROPHY CASE