Staking a spike on Paph rothschildianum?

[xiphius]

I guess I am not exactly new here, have been a longtime lurker. But finally decided to jump in with a quick (probably stupid) question and also to share my excitement.

A Paph rothschildianum that I have had for about 3 years (got it as a large, single-growth, seedling) has started putting up a spike! Squee! I am super excited to see this one flower finally! (Just starting pushing up it's third growth earlier this year)

I am curious what the thoughts are on staking this one? I usually stake paph spikes, but most pictures I have seen don't show stakes or supports for this one (and this is my first roth spike). However, the spike seems heavy and also started coming out at a fairly extreme angle (I would love to post a picture, but I don't have the requisite number of posts yet). I originally thought the angle was probably due to the fact that I grow indoors, in a tent, and the lighting is concentrated more towards the center. I shifted the plant once I noticed, but it seems to be continuing in more or less the same direction that it was originally headed, so I am not so sure that is making much of a difference now.

There are at least 3 buds visible so far and the lowest one looks like it is probably set to open sometime soon.

Any thoughts/advice? Thanks in advance

[Roberta]

I'd suggest staking (gently to slowly train the spike where you want it to go, or at least not horizontally) An ideally grown roth (and most Paphs for that matter) should be able to hold its spike without a stake but that's assuming it's pretty vertical in the first place. Also, it will strengthen as it matures. For photos stakes get removed but that doesn't mean that it never had one. Congratulations!

[xiphius]

Thanks! Yeah, this is more or less what I figured, but just wanted to check (no point in making stupid mistakes after all the anticipation).

Now, just gotta find some more things to post so I can post pictures of the flowers when it blooms!

[estación seca]

Congratulations!