I'm still relatively new to paphs. I've had this for about a year and a half. When it was given to me, it was already in bloom, so this one is "my" first bloom since I've had it. I'm very excited, but I'm nervous thinking I messed it up earlier today. The first pic here is from a few days ago, it looked good. The second pic is from today after I changed the bamboo stake for greater support. The old one was too small. Notice how the bud took a nose dive. Is this normal? Do I have the tie too close to the bud? Is it effecting the growth now? I sound stupid, probably, but how much slack should I give the area around the bloom? I'm used to Dends. and Phals. This is different. I don't want to destroy it before I get to experience it. Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Paphs like to pray as I say, eventually it will form it's bloom and stand erect. From what I am seeing in the s you can clip the stem just a bit higher and I would say just after the first bend and it will support it more. Orchids are only as delicate as we make them...they can be very forgiving.
Congratulations on flowering it! I like to put the tie for the stake just below the ovary once the spike is pretty much fully grown, and often the bud will really nod at first, but as it opens it will be held upright.