Paph leeanum spike?

[smartie2000]

I want to say spike...but it may not be one

Sometimes paphs want to continuously send leaves for some reason. Like my paph magic lantern, kept thinking it was going to bloom but it sent another leaf. Anyways the last leaf on my Magic Lantern is very small, and something else it coming, so I think it is finally going to bloom.
Since your least leaf is so small it may be a spike, but it is hard to tell

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by smartie2000

I want to say spike...but it may not be one

Sometimes paphs want to continuously send leaves for some reason. Like my paph magic lantern, kept thinking it was going to bloom but it sent another leaf. Anyways the last leaf on my Magic Lantern is very small, and something else it coming, so I think it is finally going to bloom.
Since your least leaf is so small it may be a spike, but it is hard to tell

Thanks Fren for your reply . So is there supposed to be a set amount of leaves each growth of a particular paph should have or is it variable even within the same species or hybrid?

Hopefully I won't have to wait too long, but it does seem to be growing ever so slowly! Maybe I should fertilise the poor thing

[smartie2000]

Usually it is six or seven leaves,
However paphs can send bloom sooner than that, but it is not good for the plant in the long run and stress related. Paph maudiaes can send blooms on very small growths easily when stressed. Then growers don't realize the stress because they are too happy to see the bloom on a small growth. One of my maudiae is blooming a second time this year right after the first one faded and it was definitely a stress bloom, since the growth was small

I don't think the number of leaves is set. Some plants want to keep sending more leaves for a long time....drives me nuts because I keep thinking the next one is a sheath

When my insigne hybrid wanted to bloom it there was a noticable bump in there. Anyway I don't think yours will be too long for it to bloom, if not now then later in the year. Their blooms last so long! I photgraphed mine in March and the bloom still looks good today, lasting longer than my other paphs

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by smartie2000

Usually it is six or seven leaves,
However paphs can send bloom sooner than that, but it is not good for the plant in the long run and stress related. Paph maudiaes can send blooms on very small growths easily when stressed. Then growers don't realize the stress because they are too happy to see the bloom on a small growth. One of my maudiae is blooming a second time this year right after the first one faded and it was definitely a stress bloom, since the growth was small

I don't think the number of leaves is set. Some plants want to keep sending more leaves for a long time....drives me nuts because I keep thinking the next one is a sheath

When my insigne hybrid wanted to bloom it there was a noticable bump in there. Anyway I don't think yours will be too long for it to bloom, if not now then later in the year. Their blooms last so long! I photgraphed mine in March and the bloom still looks good today, lasting longer than my other paphs

Hi Fren thanks for your reply and very helpful information! Do you know if my Paph wardii that I bought in bud was blooming size or a stress bloom? I attached a photo of the whole plant and bloom, I think it is roughly 20cm tall. It is such a compact plant and short flower spike that I think it could be a good vivarium, terrarium candidate?

[Phantasm]

Originally Posted by daemondamian

Hi Phantasm, thanks for your reply

It is actually almost winter here in Australia.

I just took a better photo that shows the difference between the two growths, what do you think?

Sorry, didn't notice you were from "down under"! Although I can't definitively give you an answer, if it's going to bloom it should be over the next few months. If you can feel a swelling at the base of the growth, it usually is a spike. Once you have bloomed a few plants and tried this, you will get a good feel for it.

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by Phantasm

Sorry, didn't notice you were from "down under"! Although I can't definitively give you an answer, if it's going to bloom it should be over the next few months. If you can feel a swelling at the base of the growth, it usually is a spike. Once you have bloomed a few plants and tried this, you will get a good feel for it.

No problem, thanks for the helpful tip

[smartie2000]

Your wardii seems fine. Someone might of helped induce (by cool temps, minor stress) it to bloom at the right time for sale or something. Perhaps a orchid show. However the growth is matured.

I have had maudiaes have their second bloom on three small leaves.... those are just not as good for the plant, and these abnormal bloomings are signs of stress to the plant.

It will grow well in a vivarium with good air movement, but the spike length of these plants can vary.

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by smartie2000

Your wardii seems fine. Someone might of helped induce (by cool temps, minor stress) it to bloom at the right time for sale or something. Perhaps a orchid show. However the growth is matured.

I have had maudiaes have their second bloom on three small leaves.... those are just not as good for the plant, and these abnormal bloomings are signs of stress to the plant.

It will grow well in a vivarium with good air movement, but the spike length of these plants can vary.

Thanks that's good to hear Fren I got this at the orchid auction I went to as a group lot of paphs, paid only $4.50 for it in bud! It was a big collection and there were many paphs and phrags in flower, I just had to have one

[Lagoon]

Why would it be induced? Paph wardii is a winter to spring bloomer.
Damian it's winter there now isn't it

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by Lagoon

Why would it be induced? Paph wardii is a winter to spring bloomer.
Damian it's winter there now isn't it

Hi Gloria,
yep it actually starts tommorow, already it is getting below 10 degrees celcius at night brrrrr!