I killed Paph Freddy - boohoo

[taradale]

and am so bummed. I'm sure you don't remember me mentioning this, but Paph Freddy (Proper name Friedrich von hayek - Tuxedo Junction ‘Red Shoulder’ x Pulsar ‘Celestial Glow’) came to me as a 2 bud Paph. Freddy's big bud has been in half bloom for about a 5 days and in the last 3 days the 2nd bud shriveled up and died - I mean to the point of the bud and stem piece between the crown and the flower (what is that orchid part name!?!) were in a dry shriveled state and it had dropped to underneath Freddy's big bud. Before he was above Freddy's big bud.

(As I writing this I'm realizing I'm more broken up about this than I should admit.)

Well this morning I made a rash decision to 'pluck' the ailing bud in an effort to let Freddy big bud have all the energy from the plant. BIG MISTAKE - this evening I looked at Freddy in his outdoor home and his stem is at half mast and you can tell he's lost energy (and will to live) to hold himself up.

Please a moment for silence of Freddy - who was almost in his full glory before a newbie killed him (bahwahhwahh).

Kath-
(Stupid, Stupid Newbie )
Check this post of Freddy in happier days

[Orchid_lady]

If it makes u feel any better, I have killed four orchids before.

[junieg2]

Oh my! That is very sad. My thoughts are with you at this time of sorrow. junieg

[jerrymeola]

If you have only had the plant for a week it is not the result of your care.

'Bud blast' the term for losing buds in shipment is not always preventable. I do not know a single on line seller that will gauarentee the survival of buds. It is outside the control of all of us. On paphs I lose the buds on about 1 in 10 of the plants I buy. This is with my best care of trying to avoid shock. When I bring them to shows the rate goes to 2-3 out of 10.

You judge the health of your plant by the condition of the leaves (and roots if you remove the plant). Flowers are a delicate thing. Once the plant acclimates to your conditions future flowers should be fine.

[taradale]

I have to take the full blame for this one. I had Freddy for a good 3 weeks and his big bud was coming along just fine. By the 2nd week I figured the other small bud was never really going to do anything - it just hung out didn't get bigger and at best I thought after the big bud bloomed that the 2nd bud may have chance. But when it withered, dryed up and dropped, I assumed it was gone. My mistake with Freddy was cutting the 2nd small bud when I thought it had totally blasted. But getting rid of the small bud prematurely seem to trigger to the plant that it's flower was gone and the plant quit 'supporting' the big bud that was in half bloom.

It's really a sad sight to have a half bloomed Paph flower. Almost painful, since I know it was me who did it in. In a last ditch effort I've 'bagged' Freddy - both the plant and the half bloomed bud. But I doubt it will help. It's been two days and the only thing holding the big half bloomed bud up is a twisty tie. But I gotta try.

I killed Freddy and that's the end of the story. Albeit a hard lesson learned.

Kath-

sorry for you, i generally tie my hands to my sides whenever i buy any new orchid. : ) they can be loved too much.