Problem with my Paph spicerianum

[patticake]

My Paph. spicerianum has been doing well with it's spike coming along well. I look at it every morning and every evening. This evening, it had these "dents" on the top of the bud that weren't there before. I haven't seen any sign of any type of insect (except a wasp that's been hanging out on the shelf acting drunk.) I'll try to get a picture tomorrow evening. It's definitely going to affect the bloom. We had our furnace go down the other day. It got to about 59F- Would that do it? All the other plants look fine including Angela, and she's so dainty. Any Ideas?

[articuno75]

Sure nothing was sucking on the bud? That's the only thing I can think of that would cause the bud to concave without blasting it.

[kmarch]

Could you possibly post a pic of the "dents"?

[solay]

Sorry to hear that Patti. Hope yours won't do what my Catt. bud did. It had a puckering look before the whole bud turned yellow and shriveled. I have a feeling it was temperature related too.

[patticake]

I'll post a pic when I get home tonight. I have to go to work now-It was later last night when I found it and I didn't want to try and take a picture-(I'm fighting off a cold and feel like crap.) Give me 11 or 12 hours from now, and I'll put a pic on. Thanks.

[katrina]

Patti -- I wouldn't think it would be temp. I have the windows open in my orchid space and the night temps have gotten as low as 56f a couple of times. I have 2 in bloom and 2 paphs spiking (spicerianum included) everyone's happy and progressing as they should.

I'll be interested in seeing a pic.

[tizzycat]

Patti, I'm so sorry you're having probs,just when your SPiceranium was doing so well. Hang in there.

[patticake]

Hi! Here's some shots of it- I didn't use my tri-pod, but I think you can still see the dents. I still see no evidence of insects. Nothing bumped it, I'm confused.

[solay]

Not sure what it could be Patti. That doesn't look like the puckering I had on the Catt. Hopefully it will not be so noticeable when the bud opens.

[Bolero]

Spicerianum is a cool to intermediate grower, can take temps well below 59F so I can't imagine that being an issue. I have grown one outside during a very cold winter.

People grow them here outside even under 40F in winter with no problems. Could be bugs or something else but I don't think dropping to 59F would cause a problem.

[kmarch]

Patti,

I see brown-ish dried up looking tissue inside the "dents" which would indicate some sort of damage. The next question is then what caused the damage? It could be an insect bite of some sort. It could also be "mechanical damage" from being bumped while being moved or watered. Did anything like that occur?

I suspect your bud will go on to open but I also suspect that the dorsal will remain puckered or dented in those places. I don't know if they will show on the front fo the flower or not, we'll just have to wait and see.

[patticake]

Well, I guess this one is a mystery. It's on the back shelf of my grow cart where no one goes but me. I know I haven't bumped it. I don't have my kids home anymore,() and they wouldn't go near my plants anyway. When the furnace repairman was here the other day, he was down there, but not on the side where the Paph is. Oh well.... Thanks to all for the input. I'll post a picture when it opens. I'm going to take some more cold medicine and go to bed.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by patticake

I'm going to take some more cold medicine and go to bed.

Oh no... get that rest and get well soon!

[patticake]

Thanks Kevin...will do!

[tizzycat]

Patti, take good care of yourself, hope you're feeling much better soon.