Paph. Pinocchio question

[boxerfan]

A friend got a Paph Pinocchio June 14, 2007. It has bloomed and the bloom died. It looks like it has one more bloom left to go, but the spike is brown. I'm comparing it to mine which was purchased same time and place and is currently in bloom and appears that it may bloom again. My spike is green. Mine stays outside quite a bit and gets severeral hours each day of 1500fc-2500fc light. The temperature ranges from 67*-90* and the humidity runs from 45%-80%. Her Paph is indoors at about a constant 70*, light from a windowsill and flourescent, maybe 1000fc, and humidity about 45%. Any ideas why the spike might be brown, is it dead? Any hope for the last bloom to flower? Thanks, Lisa

[mayres]

If the stem is truly brown I'd say the entire flowering process is done - might as well cut the stem off at the base. Brown = no life. Of course we are not talking a reddish maroon color that could be seen as brown? I grow all my paphs indoors with conditions not far off from your friend and have not had any issues, so see no reason that the conditions that you have noted should cause her plant to fade when yours did not - assuming they started at the same point. Are you sure hers was not blooming longer/earlier? How about watering - do you both do that the same? How about air movement? I have had problems with flowers fading early due to stagnant air. Just throwing out a few things to consider............

[boxerfan]

Thanks, Mike. I'm going to visit her and her orchids on Thursday. We'll put our heads together with your info and see if we can figure it out. Lisa

[slippery_biscuit]

I've a Pinocchio that is doing quite well growing indoors on a water tray with little air movement, in a west window. The first bloom has been on a month and the second has just opened. Very poruous medium so I water it every couple of days. Hopefully as mayres noted all is well and the bloom cycle has just run its course.
jeff