Paphiopedilum spike's growth rate??

[shushu45]

What is the average rate of growth of a Paphiopedilum's flower spike??
I bought my first Paphiopedilum in February and got it in March. I bought it in spike but the spike was only just coming out of the center on the plant. Since then it has only grew 1 maybe 2 cm. it gets water every 3-4 days and it get south facing windowsill light. I give it fertilizer when I remember to. It has been repotted once, not by my own design. Cat got curious and knocked it over. I mist it when I get up in the morning and just before bed.

Thank you.

[My Green Pets]

I got a related species last month, a cypripedium, and at first it grew quickly, but now it has slowed down and doesnt seem to be growing! I am suspicious that the roots arent happy, but how can I know for sure?

[shushu45]

I'm thinking that too. When I had to repot it it had three roots. But I was also thinking that if it had three roots then how could it be sending out a spike??

[billc]

What kind of paph is it? Some are maddeningly slow.

Bill

[RosieC]

As Bill says some Paphs can be really slow. If it's growing at all I would think it's OK.

As for Cyps, they are usually kept outside and growth rate really depends on temperature.

My less hardy ones in the greenhouse (currently getting 6C-8C overnight, up to 18C in the daytime) are growing really quickly. One flowered in early March, the other was outside until a couple of weeks ago and as soon as it started to grow I brought it in and it's now about to flower.

The three growing outside at the moment (2C-6C overnight, up to 15C in the daytime) are growing more slowly, they are still short spikes and have been growing for several weeks. I'm not worried, it seems about right for the temperatures they have been getting.

[jeremyinsf]

It can take a few months from when you see the spike start until a flower opens.

I've had plants where there is a bud waiting to open, for two months, just in that stage.

[shushu45]

Originally Posted by billc

What kind of paph is it? Some are maddeningly slow.

Bill

Its name is...
Paph. delenatii 'Pink Magic' x S. Gratrix 'Golden Slippers'

---------- Post added at 10:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:31 AM ----------

Originally Posted by RosieC

As Bill says some Paphs can be really slow. If it's growing at all I would think it's OK.

As for Cyps, they are usually kept outside and growth rate really depends on temperature.

My less hardy ones in the greenhouse (currently getting 6C-8C overnight, up to 18C in the daytime) are growing really quickly. One flowered in early March, the other was outside until a couple of weeks ago and as soon as it started to grow I brought it in and it's now about to flower.

The three growing outside at the moment (2C-6C overnight, up to 15C in the daytime) are growing more slowly, they are still short spikes and have been growing for several weeks. I'm not worried, it seems about right for the temperatures they have been getting.

I never thought about the temp. at all.