Paph ending bloom

[josterha]

Hi Everybody!

I have a paph that is just ending its blooming cycle. This is my first paph and I don't know what to do with the flowering stem. I'm going to try to attach a picture of the flower below. The pic was taken about a week ago, when it was more presentable. The bloom is now turning brown and shriveling - not very pretty. Should I cut the stem, and if so where? Should I leave alone? Please let me know. Sorry about the possible dumb question, but I'm still quite new at this!

Thanks a bunch,
- John

[quiltergal]

Very nice complex Paph. I'll bet it was really something in it's prime. I'm still pretty new to Paphs so take this advice with a grain of salt. I think most complex Paphs are not sequential bloomers so you're probably safe to cut the spike off. If you want to be on the safe side you could just wait for the whole thing to dry up and turn brown before cutting.

[kiki-do]

Hi John, No such thing as a dumb question. If it were mine, I would cut the stem. I would cut it as low as I could without damaging anything else. I don't believe paphs grow twice from the same stem. That has been my understanding, anyway.
Your bloom is spent...always sad to see them go by.

[snow]

i wanted to compliment you on those beautifulls paphs
they are just awsome
as for the spike; leave it untill it starts to wither on its own, then cut it off

[josterha]

Thanks for the advice and compliments. I can't really take too much credit since it I didn't grow it. If I get it to bloom again, that's another story. I will let the plant suck all the nutrients it can out of the dying bloom and then cut the stem, or until I can't stand looking at the pitiful thing anymore.

One more question: should I repot now?

Thanks,

- John

[snow]

repot when a new growth has started;unless the medium looks pretty decomposed; than i would,n,t wait but repot rightaway

[Lagoon]

I agree, if your media is decomposed I'd repot. There's nothing a paph likes better then to get into a nice fresh media. You should see lots of new growth soon after you do this.

G'Luck