Paphiopedilum blooms - how long do they last?

[quasi-starfish]

Please see attached photo - my first blooming paphiopedilum!

How long should this bloom last? It has been open less than a week, but I already see some discoloration. Did I do something wrong?

Also, it did not get a long stem - is that also something I did?

[PaphMadMan]

Paphiopedilum is a diverse genus, so it is hard to generalize about how long flowers last - a few days to a few months. Yours appears to be Paph bellatulum or one of its many hybrid descendants. Very short weak stems are common among these. The flowers should generally last for a few weeks to a couple months. It looks like yours had some kind of mechanical damage that detracts from its appearance and may shorten its life, but it still could last a few weeks. Conditions that are too wet or too dry can shorten flower life too.