The info I've seen on line says Paphs need to be kept dry in winter, however, when watering this morning I noticed a tiny new growth on my Magic Lantern. Should I continue to feed and water until that growth matures, or not? I would really love to grow at least one, just to prove I can! any and all advice welcome!

Carol

How exciting! Magic Lantern is such a beauty. I water the same in winter as summer. But Bree is a paph expert so I hope she will chime in.

How exciting! Magic Lantern is such a beauty. I water the same in winter as summer. But Bree is a paph expert so I hope she will chime in. Actually I just sprinkled oyster shells on top of my phrags and paphs to encourage bloom.

Not an expert Carol, but been growing quite a few Paphs for a year now with a good bit of success (meaning no fatalities.LOL....and new buds forming.)
I watered all through the winter. They like to be kept moist and fed. They also like light, more than I was led to believe by the literature. Spotted leaf paphs need less light than the solid leafed varieties. I repot upon arrival in special Paph medium in clay pots.
Good luck! I am sure you will have lots of success!

Thanks for the input! This a spotted leaf, and is in fine bark. I didn't repot as it had been recently repotted when I bought it in Sept. So far, it looks healthy. Logic tells me that if it is actively growing, I should continue to water and feed, but I've seen conflicting info on the internet.
In my early youth I lived in the North West, where slipper orchids grow in nature, but in my So. Cal. mini desert, they aren't very popular. This one was from a very reputable grower that is almost a neighbor. I know it can be done!

Sounds good guys. Yeah seen as though paphs have no bulbs i water when needed wether its summer or winter. Oviously alot more in summer. Magic laterns great, i don't have it but yes i also think paphs need more light than most think and i also found out they can accidently be left dry without damage but they can rot too even though there know for liking more water than most orchids. I grow mine in the same bark/perlite as most of my orchids and only really water the seedlings more. ... but yeah i'd keep watering it carol.

Thanks for your input!

Thanks all of you for the input! I will continue to water, and cross my fingers.

Crossed here too!

Carol,
Repotme.com used to sell a GREAT Paph mix. Recently they changed it, but will give you the old if you ask them. My paphs do so well in it.

The contents of the OLD CLASSIC (they have another type) Paph and Phrag mix was:

small coconut husk chips
medium hydroton
small charcoal
white marble chips
coir
rice hulls
chopped sphagnum
small sponge rock

Janice

Yum! Even makes me hungry (not the marble chips though)! I think repotme is one guy and he is very responsive so definitely call for this mix.

Wow! That has a little of everything! The grower is a very reputable grower, almost a neighbor, who is selling off her stock due to poor health, so I'm leaving it in her mix, for now. It appears to be fine bark and sponge rock, with plenty of room. I'll keep a close eye on moisture.

I just use small orchid bark chunks with some perlite and sometimes add some volcanic rock or scoria for my paphs and most of my other orchids.