No Spike - No Bloom Lady Slippers

[Gunde]

WOW - what great information! Thanks all!! With this new information I can not provide a better description; all the lady slippers have the new growth fans, so I guess I just have to wait for a spike to come up from the new growth. Do they need high or low humidity? I ask this because yesterday the humidity in Las Vegas hit a new low of 1 percent. It normally is around 10 percent, but still low. Will these slippers require a 20 degreed day-night temp difference to trigger a spike? Thanks again for all the help!!

[Gunde]

My thanks to Zoi2 for providing me the link that helped me to learn how to upload the pictures that kavanaru requested.

These pictures of the slippers were taken soon after they were purchased last year. Since then the plants have produced new fans (I now know what a fan is), but no spike. Thanks again all for your patience with a newby.

[Gunde]

Completely due to the help I have received from members of this forum, for which I thank you all, I now believe I understand what it takes to get a Lady Slipper to send up a spike and bloom.

As I now understand it; after the first bloom is gone and the spike is removed, the plant will grow new growth (called a fan). Then later (up to 18 months) after this new fan has matured it will send up a spike and a bloom will appear. Please let me know if I have misunderstood this cycle in any way as I want to get it right in my mind.

Now, just a few more questions; 1) will the “old fan” which produced the new growth produce more than one new fan? 2) should the “old fan” be removed after the new fan has matured? 3) is there an optimum humidity needed (Las Vegas – Nevada typically has 10% humidity, so I am worried)? 4) will a 20% difference in day-night temperature be required to “trigger” growth of the new spike? Just a few questions turned out to be four more. Sorry about that, but you all know now how much I value your advice. Again, thanks so much.

[Daethen]

That is why we are all here, to answer each other's questions. No, you do not need to remove the old fan as it will support the rest of the plant. Yes, it can produce more than one new growth. The other two questions I am not sure of, but more humidity than that would be optimal. Do you use humidity trays?

[Zoi2]

I don't grow many paphs but I do not believe you are going to get much growth with 10% humidity. Is there any way you can set up a terrarium type area to increase the humidity to 40-60%?
The day/night temperature change is not really a 20% change as much as a 15-20 degree change. I would imagine if your plants are on a window sill you will get close to those changes in the fall.
Joann

[Gunde]

Thanks to All!! I know have a much better understanding.