measuring "wingspan"

[weederwoman]

Exactly how do I measure the wingspan of the leaves of my Kolosand? Stretch out my two longest leaves and measure the tip to tip length between them? This would take at least two people.

[Fairorchids]

Use metallic tape measure. Widest point (without straigtening any bent leaves) counts.

[weederwoman]

Thank you. The leaves naturally curl downward. Do I measure from the highest point of the leaf, before it begins its downward arc?

[Fairorchids]

When leaftip curls, I measure to widest point of the fan, without straightening the curl. That means measuring to the outer edge of the curl, which might or might not be the actual tip of the leaf.

[weederwoman]

Thank you. I am trying to determine if my plant is large enough to be expected to be making its first new growth. I need to evaluate my care strategies.
I have had the plant about 5 years, and the leaves have gotten quite a bit larger since I got it, but no signs of new growth yet. It is making a new leaf, but no basal keiki (if that is the proper term) yet.

[Fairorchids]

I do not think that a measurement will tell you much. These are very large plants, but within that definition there are smaller, intermediate and large plants.

It used to be a 12-16 year time line for sanderianum to grow to blooming size, and kolopakingii is larger. However, for rothschildianum the time line has gotten shorter over the last 10 years, so I would take the official time lines with several grains of salt.

These Paphs (and I have a few) take their own sweet time, and we just have to be patient.

[weederwoman]

Yes, patience is a virtue. My memory is hazy, but I think it was about the size of your average Trader Joes' Maudiae when I got it. It's probably over 10 years old, I'm guessing. I am encouraged by the new leaf, though, I've read they won't flower till they have a second growth, at least. I still remember the twinkle of amusement in the growers eye when he said "It will be a long time before this one blooms". I was one wet-behind-the ears newbie, and he knew it. But i'm learning patience, right?

[Brooke]

I grew the kolopakingii for several years and it is a slow grower. A new growth on it took two years before it was mature enough to bloom.

When I gave it away it was in a standard size gallon pot. Huge, but slow, but worth the wait for the blooms.

Brooke