Newbie to Paphs Query

[WaterWitchin]

This is fairieanum x Pacific Shamrock.... my first venture into paphs.

Got it a year ago, waited for bloom to fade, then moved it to S/H. It's now blooming again. But the flower stalk is really long and droopy.



So I staked it up so I could get a decent picture. But when I originally got it, the stem was much shorter and wasn't staked. What did I do wrong? Or is this at least semi-normal for them?

[shushu45]

First off what a beautiful paph.!!
Second. I have never owned a Paph and I'm very new to orchid growing. But what I have gathered it is u didn't do anything wrong. The spike will grow longer trying to reach a suitable light leval for the flower to bloom. Most orchids do that. Some can be really short spikes and others can reach very long lengths.

So what I think is that u r doing everything right for this gorgeous Paph.

But let's hear from a more experienced Grower who owns a Paph.

[NYCorchidman]

It is a hybrid registered fairly recently in November of 2012 as Paphiopedilum Fairre Helen.

Given the look of the whole plant, I think it is fine.

The fact that it is flowering again means it is getting enough light and in good health.
The length of spike may vary from season to season although it is pretty consistent for vast majority of paphs I've seen.

I do not know why, but I guess one reason could be that with so many different species involved in these hybrids, certain gene may kick in at different time affecting the length of the spike.

The reason why it is drooping is because the flower is too heavy for the spike to support, so you want to stake it so it does not break.

Paphiopedilums usually support their flowers well, but many hybrids with large flowers (complex) tend to droop and break unless they are staked at the right time.

Some hybrids make very thin and weak spike, and thus easily bend over, as is the case with yours.

I have one paph (Fairrieanum crossed with green complex like yours) that makes skinny spike and I have to stake it in order to prevent the damage of being broken off otherwise.

Also, some paphs have drooping spikes naturally and thus do not break off unless they are handled roughly. These can be staked to create preferred look, or can be left as is.

[WaterWitchin]

Thanks guys. And that makes sense, NYC. Since it's my first paph, guess I expected a bit more consistency. I thought perhaps it wasn't getting enough light.

Last year I had it in a small Edwardian-type case, and it fit. This year, it just kept getting taller and taller... I did remove it from the case though, before it bumped its head.

Wish I'd have staked it a bit sooner, but it's pretty darned nice anyway. Am thinking I need a few more.

[NYCorchidman]

Nearly all my paphs mkae bigger and bigger leaves.
When you buy one growth or first blooming seedling, it is not at its full size yet. It is just old enough to flower and that's it.

At least the varying length of spike each blooming is not that much of an issue compared to the change of colors and shape, which can be a big issue. lol

[Fairorchids]

It is normal for this cross to have fairly tall flower stems. However, most Paphs can on occasion do a flower with short stem - in particular if there is a short stem species somewhere in the background.

It is probably an enviromental trigger, but it has never been defined what it is. That is apparently what happened to this plant last year.

Since Paphs take some 5 months from bud initiation to flower opening, there is a long time for outside factors to possibly trigger something.

[WaterWitchin]

Well, NYC, since I'm fairly ignorant of paphs, 'tis doubtful shape or color will bother me anyway. I'm just darned happy I branched out into another area and didn't kill it right off the get-go.

Fairorchids... thanks for the input. I got it from an orchid guy who grows under lights in a cave... pretty big transition to my drafty turn of century sunroom. Plus he knows what he's doing... as opposed to me.

Sometimes I can almost hear those orchids screaming... Noooooo, not HER!!!... Please, don't make me go....

[NYCorchidman]

You are funny! haha

I think your sunroom makes the plant happier than the light in the cave set up.

Make sure you mark the plant just in case it blooms different the next time and you might go, where did this one come from? lol

[WaterWitchin]

Ah Heck, NYC! This one IS marked... Found out a few years back throwing the name tags away was wrong. Who woulda thunk it?

[NYCorchidman]

Yeah, keep the tags. They are important.