Paph. flower?

[pikevi]

While watering the Paphs. this morning, I noticed this growth in this Paph. [Paph.chamberlianum 'Mt. View' X Paph. haynaldianum 'Long Life'].

Could this be a flower bud (first of my own )? It is growing along the mid-vein.

Thanks.

[kmarch]

Well it's definitely a spike albeit it is a bit odd in it's habit.

By the way, this cross has been registered and named. It is Paph Myra.

[Vivienne]

Congratulations pikevi - it's a bud!! I agree Kevin - it's growing in an odd direction.

[kmarch]

Here's a link to what the flower will be similar too: http://www.slipperorchid.com/other_o...yra_Free_1.jpg

[Vivienne]

ooooh - now that is really unique. Love it!

[prisana]

Yeah!!! Congrats on your fist paph spike, Pikevi...can't wait to see the flowers..( looks like there's gonna be more than one anyways ).

[pikevi]

Thank you kmarch, Vivienne and prisana.

You are all bearers of good news. The photo on the link is very pretty. I hope I'd not lose this bud prematurely.

I hope your prediction becomes true,prisana!... more than one flower?

[pikevi]

Just an update.

The bud refused to grow upwards. Nature needed some assistance

[Anton]

A bit of Viagra in the potting mix maybe ????

[pikevi]

LOL, Anton.

I wonder if orchids have PDE5. If not viagra would not help

BTW, how is your 'flu?

[tom499]

Looks like its going to be a stunner when it flowers

Good growing pikevi

[Tobi]

Great little hookup Pikevi. Keep us posted on its blooming activity.

[pikevi]

Thank you Tobi.

The stalk is fairly supple but I did not want to over-extend it for fear of hurting it or even breaking it. I will keep pulling it up little by little by pulling the prop backwards. The felt should help in not causing any abrasion on the stalk.

If not, I will sit on the floor and look up to enjoy the flower

[Vivienne]

Seems like a perfect solution you've devised pikevi. Can't wait to see it bloom!

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by pikevi

....but I did not want to over-extend it for fear of hurting it or even breaking it. I will keep pulling it up little by little by pulling the prop backwards.

Very clever little aparatus pikevi, especially with the felt bit. If you pull the prop backwards to train the inflorescence, you'll want to carefully watch the base of the inflorescence as it may crimp there where it connects to the plant. That is where the stem will likely be at it least flexible.

We don't see many pics of this cross so I want you to do well with it so you can post a pic of the flower to the forum's picture archive.

I'm quite excited about this flowering!

[pikevi]

Thank you, kmarch.

The way I have set up the contraption will probably NOT affect the base of the stalk, or so I believe. I set it up in such a way that I can incrementally extend it every day, perhaps over a week or so.

I will post a photo tomorrow rather than explain it in many words

I hope I will get it to bloom , at least for the rarity of the cross.

I usually run on luck than skill

[pikevi]

Here are the pix.

In order to extend the flower more and more I keep adjusting the wire over the slat of the basket , where it is just 'hooked'. Not too fancy

It has reached roughly 20 degrees to the vertical. I will push for another 10 or so.

[Lucinda Brown]

Good going,Pikevi,Sometimes it the light situatioon that causes this,the plants bloooms will oftentimes be reaching around towards the light.Where is the light for this one cooming from? Get it in a spot w/more direct overhead light and it may grow more upright.

[pikevi]

Thanks Lucinda Brown.

Actually there is a light just above it (1X40W Wide Spectrum) and another one on the right of it (2X40W W/S).

I doubt that it is a light problem. We will see what happens with the next spike

[pikevi]

Would this be upright enough so that the flower(s) will NOT be facing the floor?

Thanks.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by pikevi

Would this be upright enough so that the flower(s) will NOT be facing the floor?

Your buds won't be facing the floor. Paphs initially have nodding buds but they pull their chins up when they bloom. Take a look at some of the pics of Paph buds I have posted and you'll see them nodding as well. Because of the angle the inflorescence comes out of the plant, you won't have a vertical inflorescence, which is fine anyway since multi-floral Paphs do not have vertical inflorescences but rather arching ones. Yours will just arch a little more than usual. Your buds look really nice I can't wait to see them open!

[pikevi]

Thanks kmarch.

I think I will just leave it alone for now. I will use a longer stake to give it support at the curve of the stalk if it becomes necessary.

[pikevi]

Just an update.

The stalk on the Paph. Myra has become quite upright.

It is growing pretty fast. I am waiting for it to bloom

[bellina9]

Wow, I'm really impressed how fast your paph is growing! I have one with a new bud (its on a race with an Onc to be my first orchid to flower on my own ). Its not growing fast at all! What are you doing for your culture?

[pikevi]

Thanks bellina9.

The bud grew from the size of about 3cm ( >1") to the current height of 27cm ( 11") in less than 3 weeks (18 days).

The mix I use is my own composition: Fir bark,coconut husk, perlite,charcoal and sphagnum moss. Strangely my phals should be stressed out sinc eI potted tyem three time in less than 4 months. Once after bringing them home, then after coming up with my own mix and finally , thanks to kmarch's suggestion, adding more sphagnum moss.

They all seem to be doing well after adding more sphagnum moss.

Are you keeping it quite moist? Do you have a good air circulation? (I have a fan working during the day).

Good luck with yours.

[Tobi]

Looking good Pikevi!! Won't be long now.

[bellina9]

WOW, all of that in 3 weeks!

Mine is in spang moss, so stays moist. its also a, I forgot the name, spotted leaf??? paph. Maybe that has something to do with it. I'm going to check on the slipper orchid forums. Cannot wait to see your flower! I'll post mine when I get one, but it might not be till like February!

O, I also have some slow release pellets in the medium. Dinomite, or something like that??? its a 20-20-20 fertilizer I picked up at the orchid show. What do you use?

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

On my Paphs, mostly not the multifloral type, I like to let them open with little or no staking. Then, because I really like them looking upwards just a little more than they do, I will create a wire with a little hook on the top like yours, and a paper clip type arrangement at the bottom to clip onto the edge of my plastic pots. This way I can bend the flower stem back a bit to get their sunny faces looking up a bit to see the very pretty patterns on the dorsal sepals. If I prop them up before they are completely open they will compensate and nod their flowers downward again with the hook bending the stem backward, requiring more backward bending. The down side to my little wire arrangement is that it is not adjustable for height as a second slightly higher flower opens. But I can reuse these with a little heating of the upper part to sterilize it, and the lower part does not enter the pot to stab roots so no problem there.

[pikevi]

Thanks Tobi & bellina9.

Cynthia: Thanks for that info. I will do that to other Paphs. This one is almost there and unless it shoots up more I will just watch it. In any case I have to get those stiff wires and make those fancy, but very practical, props. I will attempt to make some this weekend.

[pikevi]

I am getting a bit nervous about the flower stalk.

I think I have straightened it out nicely.

It has grown more than 10cm (4 ") in the past one week. It stands at around 37cm (15"). The stalk is hard and when I remove the support ( I had to change the prop about three time for height) it CAN stand erect.

Is it normal for the stalk to grow that high or is there a deficiency in light requirement?

Thanks.


ps: please forgive me for asking ,perhaps, silly questions. This is my first and I am very anxious to see it through to fruition.

[patlee]

Pikevi, Did your Paph bloom yet? I can relate to your situation almost completely. I have a Bl. (Brassavola & Laelia?? I just liked the bloom... ) Petite Stars that I brought back from Florida a couple of years ago. It has its first Ohio bloom on it now--well, three-quarters of a bloom. (Believe me, I will post a picture when it opens fully ) I was really concerned because in the past week the stem of the flower bud developed a very,very pronounced S-curve. I was afraid this was the beginning of a blasted bud, but boy was I wrong--wait til you see it I'm very pleased (can you tell??)

[pikevi]

Patlee: It has not bloomed yet. But the stalk is getting longer and longer.

I think I can completely understand your anxiety and excitement. I am looking at my Paph. bud every morning and every evening. Soon I may start bidding goodnight to it. Except for Phal. flowers almost every other orchid flower is a 1st for me.

I am very anxious to see your Bl. flower soon.

BTW, I am surprised how good you are in containing your excitement. It does not show at all!!

[patlee]

Your time will come and then you won't be much better . It's just too exciting, isn't it? And the anticipation is half the fun!! We'll all be watching for your picture...

[pikevi]

Is a little honey-like exude normal in a Paph. flower.? I found a trace of such an exude right at the crack of the flower.

I hope it is not anything serious to hurt the flower. Hopefully it will bloom in a few days.

[kmarch]

I occasionally see a tiny drop of sap on the very tip of a Paph bud. I dont' think you have anythign to worry about there.

By the looks of the opening bud, the petals are taking on strongly the colour of the chamberlainianum parent. It looks like the pouch might have the redd/maroon colouration of chamberlainianum too, which is desirable because haynaldianum pouches tand to be a kind of non-descript brown.

Can't wait to see it in full bloom! It's looking great so far!

Earlier this week when I watered, I noticed I have a Paph Delrosi (rothschildianum x delenatii) and another Paph Primcolor (primulinum x concolor) in spike.

[pikevi]

Thanks kmarch.

Just to satisfy my curiosity:

what causes it?- Some natural damage when the flower is in the process of opening up or discharge of extra sap (ICF) drawn into the cells being forced out?

Is there any co-relation between the amount of exude and the longevity of the flowers?

Those two names 'rothschildianum and delanatii' ring a bell. I think I have some of the hybrids. And congratulations. Are those the first for those orchids?

Thanks.

[kmarch]

Before going on I have to correct myself. I should have said it is taking on petal colour form the heynaldianum parent instead of the chamberlainianum parent. Paph chamberlainianum does not have reddish petals. Sorry, my bad.

Originally Posted by pikevi

what causes [the droplets of sap]?- Some natural damage when the flower is in the process of opening up or discharge of extra sap (ICF) drawn into the cells being forced out? Is there any co-relation between the amount of exude and the longevity of the flowers?

I do not know what the biological process is that causes the little droplets of sap to form. But it doesn't seem to be detrimental to the plant or flowers or their longevity. I don't know for a fact but I do not believe it is damage of any kind. Flowers that are damaged during opening usually posess some easily visible signs of the damage, a crinkled petal, a small tear in the dorsal or somethign like that.

Originally Posted by pikevi

Those two names 'rothschildianum and delanatii' ring a bell. I think I have some of the hybrids. And congratulations. Are those the first for those orchids?

Yup, both are first bloom seedlings. I've had the Delrosi about a year and a half, the Primcolor about a year.

[tizzycat]

Pikevi, sorry for the late response, the sizse of that spike must have rendered me speechless, keep those pics coming, can't wait to see the blooms.

[patlee]

Pikevi, I noticed a tiny drop of sap on my little Bl. just before it bloomed. I was afraid it might be something like the honeydew that attracts aphids, but I guess not . It was on the plant for about a week before it bloomed, but now that I have the flower it seems to have dried up and disappeared. Don't know what happened to it, but it was not a sign of impending doom...Expecting your post soon...

[WIB]

Lots of my orchids develop a droplet of sweet fluid somewhere near the flower. Often, they'll hold it through the period of bloom. I've never much noticed it with Paphs, but I've always assumed that it was part of the strategy to get an insect's attention. -- Bill

[pikevi]

Thanks everyone.

I think I am too anxious and nervous since this is the first Paph. bloom under my care.

Thanks for tolerating my trifling questions.

I will post pictures when it blooms.

[pikevi]

Here are some pictures of the bloomed Paph. It opened up last Thursday.

[jbigio]

very nice good job with it

[kmarch]

Looking good! It looks like it is blooming out true to tag.

[fred]

Congrats pikevi good growing mate well done

very nice

[patlee]

All good things come to him who waits...congratulations on a wait that was worth it

[pikevi]

Thank you everyone. I hope it stays on for a while, at least until the second one opens up. I'd like to see both together.

[tizzycat]

Great Pics Pikevi, well worth the wait eh?

[Tobi]

Awesome bloom Pikevi. Good growing

[sandra]

pikevi, the flowers last quite a while so you should see them both bloomed together. My flower lasted 2&1/2 months.

[prisana]

Awww... she's such a purrrrty flower, I can tell what a proud daddy you are right now. Congrats.

[pikevi]

Thanks tizzycat,Tobi,sandra and prisana.

I can live it: 2 1/2 months!!, lol. It will be almost spring!!

prisana: I am happy I did not break the stalk. The leaves are long and the stalk is long too (almost 20 inches) but much more delicate.

[blackorchid]

they are absolutely wonderful photos. It was great to look at the from the start and then see the beautiful flowers. Congratulations they are gorgeous.

[Sharyn]

pikevi: How lovely. Like bladkorchid said, it's nice to see the progress from start to bloom. Thanks for posting these pics.

[pikevi]

Thanks blackorchid.

You're welcome, Sharyn. I'd have posted more photos but I did not want to bore others

[articuno75]

Pikevi that was awesome to see that from start to finish. How long do you think it will be before the second one blooms? That is a pretty flower. Love the colors and the close up shot. How did you do that and with what camera

[pikevi]

Articuno75: The entire process took a few days under 6 weeks for the first flower. But the second one seems to be a bit slow in maturing. I will post a picture a little later ( It is not even 6 a.m. yet)

I took those shots with Canon PowerShot A95 (5.1 MP). I used a tripod;thanks to our mentor and teacher ,Anton. I was too sure of my hands' steadiness and I always thought that the camera was faulty when the photos came out 'shaky'.

It took a while and Anton' advise for my pea-brain to register that cameras don't lie.

[pikevi]

I attach photos of the second flower bud.

[articuno75]

It's absolutely stunning! Enjoy the blooms. Must take more pics to show us though.