Paph. delphi flowered weirdly

[vmax3000]

The blossom never made it out of the leaf axils. I acquired this one several years ago, as a deflasked youth. It's a cross developed by a friend between delanatii and phillipinense. I noticed the flower had fully opened while still tucked down in the central leaves where the flower stem would normally emerge? Might this be cultural or hybrid related? I have spicerianum and Song of Love nearby that are both blooming normally, if that reveals anything about my cultural habits.... Thanks.

[kavanaru]

Vanessa, do you have a pic of your plant? I have never seen a Paph doing something like that... If we think that the other plants growing next to it, and receiving the same cultural regime (water, fert, light) I would not say it is a cultural problem... Has this plant bloomed before or is this the first bloom?

It could be a mutation that inhibit the development of the flower stem...

or in worst case, the plant is sick and that's the result of it (I have never seen this kind of reaction in orchids, but in other plants!)

[vmax3000]

Hi Ramon,
I will post a pic for you later. It's the first time this plant has ever bloomed and it's huge. Not as big as my song of love (12" diameter pot), but it's a good sized plant (~6-8" diameter pot). I bought another cross at the same time and it, too, has never bloomed, but grown and looks lush and healthy. I'll get a pic up later this evening. Thanks for your reply. I've never seen anything like this, either . It's an odd one!

[Royal]

Is it a first bloom? I was told that deformed flowers can be either: 1) cultural, 2) environmental (like getting sprayed with something systemic just at the wrong time), or 3) genetic - but you won't know for sure until it blooms again.

I've got one kind of blooming funny (no lateral petals) so I asked.

[vmax3000]

Originally Posted by vmax3000

Hi Ramon,
I will post a pic for you later.

Um, for you that will probably be tomorrow morning!!

[kavanaru]

Royal, what I think is weird here is that the other plants receive the same treatment and are blooming fine... of course, a genetic source can be surely considered after a second/third bloom, and all of them showing the same problem...

[vmax3000]

Originally Posted by RoyalOrchids

Is it a first bloom?

Yes. I have had it for several years and it's just grown and grown. I thought it was a slow bloomer. I noticed the bud tucked in and wondered where the stem was. Yesterday morning, I noticed a fully opened flower tucked into the leaf axils.....

I've got one kind of blooming funny (no lateral petals) so I asked.

What plant?

BTW, that Laelia is putting off one long bloom spike. I am getting excited!!

[Royal]

Originally Posted by vmax3000

What plant?

BTW, that Laelia is putting off one long bloom spike. I am getting excited!!

It's Paph Vinter's Treasure 'York' x Paph Black Zebra. It's survived and bloomed despite my treatment.

Congrats on the Laelia!!! I've got one too!

[vmax3000]

Ok, here's the weirdness in my greenhouse. I would love to know what you guys think.... It's the strangest thing I've seen in my years of orchid rearing (and killing ).