Paph: When is it yours?

[dbarron]

Ok, granted that if you reflower a plant that you received in spike, you may consider you have somewhat mastered the art of cultivation of that particular plant.

When's the point that becomes true (opinion of course)?

Ok, in earliest March I ordered some paphs, none of which were in spike (and frankly I didn't expect any to be), however, something is happening on one of them. Being totally new to paphs I finally ventured to write back the vendor that I had purchased them from, and he said that many of the siblings are in bud or flower on the bench now. While that is no promise that mine isn't a leaf (way too early to photograph yet...I doubt it's visible, I was able to detect SOMETHING last week, and confirm it more this week...it could have been my imagination it was so small and deep in the crown), do I get to count it as mine if the spike emerges totally under my control ? (lol) Or must I await the next flowering ?

Just trying to keep score fairly

[RandomGemini]

Yes, it counts as yours.

It's probably a spike. I have never seen a new leaf emerge from the crown of a fully developed fan on a paph. I'm pretty new to paphs too, but mine tends to sort of shoot up with a fan and new leaves form while the fan is still maturing.

[katrina]

Orchids don't do anything fast..relatively speaking. So, with that in mind, if you bought the paph in March and it's blooming now (or does soon) then, honestly, that is mainly due to the culture it was getting the entire year prior to that growth developing a flower.

With that said, you helped ensure it was able to do the job by not killing it and/or doing something that would cause that plant to not bloom however, the bloom would not be due to your having grown it for about the past month.

In my OS, there is a rule that you can't take credit for the blooming if you haven't been growing it for at least 6 months. I've heard of some societies making that time 12 months.

Personally, I only take full credit for a blooming when I am the one who has been growing it for the entire previous growing cycle. In most cases, that means a year (or thereabouts).

[dbarron]

I like the previous posters answer better, but yours I must admit is more realistic.
At least I can claim (if it happens) that I didn't cause it to blast (lol), right ?
Oh, that reminds me, I read somewhere about not moving a paph spiking ? The reason I believe was something about deformation of the flower? Truth or fiction ?

[katrina]

Originally Posted by dbarron

I like the previous posters answer better....

Sorry...just being honest.

Originally Posted by dbarron

At least I can claim (if it happens) that I didn't cause it to blast (lol), right ?

Of course!!

Originally Posted by dbarron

Oh, that reminds me, I read somewhere about not moving a paph spiking ? The reason I believe was something about deformation of the flower? Truth or fiction ?

I move my plants all the time but I do try to make sure I put them back in the same position...relative to the direction of the light. Most flowers will open toward the light so if you're moving them around and switching the direction from which they are receiving the light then the flowers can get all screwy and twisted around which can really mess up the display. Phals are really prone to it.

[dbarron]

Hmm, where I try to rotate plants (making them dizzy) to get as close to upright growth as might be possible in a directional window situation.
I would assume this wouldn't be an issue for the flower till it's in at least high bud ?

[plantluvver]

I think the rule at my orchiid club is 3 months before it can be displayed as yours. I also think that my club might not be affliliated with AOS. ( I did not see AOS awards on the plants.
There are 2 orchid clubs in my city, but I have never considered joining the other, because of lack of bus service to that location.)

But I am fairly new ( For my latest attempt to growing orchids), So I take credit for being smart enough to notice things going on in my plants.

Enjoy your blooms, whether or not someone else credits them or not.

[DMT]

I have a picture of a Phal on OB where it was moved I knew better, but the house was busy during Easter and one flower is turned compared to others, if you move it try to point the orchid in the same direction as it was.

[Fairorchids]

The avg Paph takes 5-6 months from bud initiation (cold spell), till you see the open flower. And, a few take even longer, Paph malipoense is a notorious slow bud 'developer'.

[NYCorchidman]

Katrina has the right on answer.