Paphiopedilum Maudiae - my very first Paph rebloom

[boyong]

beautiful bloom! that adds to my wishlist hope to find one at our local stores here in manila

[RosieC]

Well I didn't realise that Paph flowers could ever last so long, but this one is only just showing the first signs of the flower browning. The one flower has been open for just shy of 3 months!

[Duane McDowell]

Rosie, that's great! It means you're getting the watering and humidity and temp right. Three months is basically the upper limit for these, but if you consider that a well-grown plant will throw new spikes every few months...
It's best to avoid the temptation to divide these... Maudiae types don't grow into the massive specimens that the bulldog types or multiflorals can, but they're at their peak when they have 8-12 growths. Then they have their largest flowers, their best form, and, of course, their most frequent blooming.

[alsorchids]

I think you have a real winner there! Its not just a wonderful bloom, but the leaves are so attractive too.

[RosieC]

Thanks Duane amd alsorchids.

I couldn't believe how the flower kept going on and on, so glad I'm getting something right with it, although I feel like I tend to underwater.

This one actually has about half the inside of the pot blocked off, so there is only media in one half. I was having problems with it staying too wet and then the roots rotting, but it was in this half pot arrangement for a couple of months before the flower bud appeared and it seems much happier than before (there are two new growths starting at the momment )

[alsorchids]

Rosie it sounds to me that Duane is right and that you have successfully adapted your enviroment to this orchids benefit. I have also learned something new about Maudiae types and there nature which is helpful. Nice thread!

[greenbean]

Congratulations Rosie! That's a beautiful Paph!

I'm a little jealous, I must admit. I've had a Paph. 'Macabre' that hasn't bloomed since I brought it home in spike in 2008. It's 2 plants growing in 1 pot, each one has a new fan and both have been growing very slowly since I got it. They have good color and no pleating, they just grow very very slowly. The plan was to see if I could get this one to bloom before I got any more, but I don't think I have the willpower to resist the call of the Paphs much longer. Maybe I could get another one and have better luck, not that I'd give up on Macabre. I love it's purple and black flowers.

[RosieC]

Evan, my other paphs have all been really slow growing, including some dark purple flowering mottled leaf paphs, a bulldog and a second Maudiae. The bulldog finally flowered as well this year but I had had it about twice as long and the others are also just growing slowly.

I planned when I first bought the bulldog that I would get it to flower before I bought more Paphs... but I gave in last year and bought more anyway. I'm really glad I did, and now I've had sucess I'm going to get even more next year

[greenbean]

I think I might follow that same path, Rosie. I can feel myself giving into temptation.

Besides, I'll bet my Paph is lonely, being the only one of it's kind in the whole house.

[alsorchids]

Loneliness is a awful thing. i know your doing this out of kindness to a isolated orchid who disparately needs friends of its own cultural background !