Complex Paphs Blooming Problem

[DweamGoiL]

I had a complex paph a couple of months ago that produced a spike. The bloom was unusually small and in a matter of days darkened and shriveled up so I ended up cutting the spike before it completely dried out.

Now, I have another complex paph that has produced 2 spikes, but they are still not very developed. They are looking reallysmall and kind of shriveled as well. I am not sure what I am doing wrong.

The only thing I can think of is that since I tend to overwater, I have been very conservative with watering them...maybe too much so. I am sure for this time around, it's most likely too late, but I'd certainly like to correct the problem for the future. So, advice is certainly welcome

[billc]

Are they in a spot where they are getting drafts? Hot or cold drafts could be causing the buds to blast.
Are the plants otherwise healthy? They generally won't set a bud unless they are fairly happy, but if the plant isn't doing too well maybe it can't support the flower.

Bill

[Fairorchids]

Most Paphs need to be watered while still moist. Only exception would be Brachys, which need to dry out between waterings.

[DweamGoiL]

It could be a combination of both things so I will try to water more often (about a day or two before I usually decide to) and since my growing area is by the door to the outside hallway, drafts are very likely. I will make sure whenever we open the door to cover the rack with something to protect from drafts. Hopefully, that will solve the problem

Other than the blooming problem, they are a good color and grows leaves pretty regularly. All the leaves are upright and not droopy and I have recently changed them to an area to get a bit more light since the oncoming winter season is blocking out all the sun for us.

[NYCorchidman]

It's hard to tell without pictures.
Did the flower open at all??
The flower size being small (when fully open) is not due to watering, but rather genetic. I've seen them from as small as 7 cm across to over 18cm!
As long as the dorsal sepal is round and full, flowers with natural spread of about 13 cm looks very big and nice. Many are just around 10 cm give or take.
I like them really big and glossy!

I see a lot of paphs coming into stores now have unusually small flowers for bulldogs. I was shocked!
Also, many of these bulldogs are horribly crippled.

So, if your flower opened up fully and looked like a "normal bulldog" flower but was just small, then it's just genetic.
turning brown and shriveled up in days can be due to severe underwatering. How often did you water??

Plants might just terminate the flowers on its own for some reason, although I haven't see this a lot. It's just a possibility. Why do they do that? There may be many different reasons.

[DweamGoiL]

This was the bud when I first purchased it:



Then, the flower when it opened:



And then, this was how far the bud got when it bloomed again and in a couple of weeks, it just shriveled up:



Btw...the damage on the leaf was my cat chewing the leaves, not pests.