Buds emerging on Paph.Yosemite Moon x fairrieanum

[RosieC]

Looking great. It's so rewarding when you find the first spikes on these.

I would not rotate these as I've heard it can stop the flower from lifting fully and it may stay drooped. I find that if I stake a paph at the stage yours is at then the spike will grow pretty straight and it will decide for it's self which way the bud should be to the light (usually with the light behind the flower).

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by RosieC

Looking great. It's so rewarding when you find the first spikes on these.

I would not rotate these as I've heard it can stop the flower from lifting fully and it may stay drooped. I find that if I stake a paph at the stage yours is at then the spike will grow pretty straight and it will decide for it's self which way the bud should be to the light (usually with the light behind the flower).

Thanks, Rosie.

That is interesting information. I rotate all of my paphs and they usually lift up fine except I do have one pot of paph with three flowers right now, two of them are fully lifted up while the other one is a bit droopy. and I don't like that. I'm not sure if it's due to the rotation or its generic or some other cause, though.

I don't like staking because I'm afraid the stake might damage the root as I push it down through the potting media. On the paphs that throw out multiple spikes at a time, I use rubber band to clump them nicely together.

The only orchids I use supporting stakes for are the ones that produce flowers that are quite heavy that the spike is unable to stand up on its own and even break off like Tahoma Glacier and some other intergenerics.

This is the second time blooming for this plant by the way.

[RosieC]

I have to admit that I've not had problems myself, but I've always been careful not to rotate them since I read that you shouldn't before my first one flowered.

I tend to stake paphs because mine seem to have such big flowers that weigh down the spike. One of mine that wasn't staked is actually leaning on the leaves of another orchid because otherwise the spike sinks so low otherwise that it almost tips the pot. I can't stake it now because that throws the flower to the wrong angle (I always try to stake before the flower opens).

[NYCorchidman]

Almost all the paphs that I bought came staked and I believe it was more of a protection purpose while being shipping from a nursery to a store. I remove them all once the paphs are brought into my home.

The only exception is the new complex type that I bought this past week. It is the biggest one I've ever seen! spreading across about 6.5 in. When I remoeved the stake, the weight of the flower put the spike down so I placed the stake back.

[NYCorchidman]

still in bud, but growing larger and larger...very close to opening up now it looks.

The flower on this plant had a quite large dorsal and now I see the dorsal portion of the bud growing bigger day by day.

can't wait!!!!

[RosieC]

Wow, that's looking really close. If it's anything like most of my paphs though it might take ages to open.

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by RosieC

Wow, that's looking really close. If it's anything like most of my paphs though it might take ages to open.

I agree. The dorsal is getting larger and larger, but then it is grwoing the lip and petals inside, so who knows! All I know is it is getting close.

By the way, the two spikes are facing opposite directions. I wish they faced the same direction. oh, well...

[bballr4567]

Very cool to follow the growth of the bud. Hopefully its still beautiful for you.

[NYCorchidman]

So one of the buds is finally opening up.
It is all green and white, but I expect the green part to turn yellow soon as that's what it looked like back in 2010 when it was in bloom.

It is so exciting that it's finally open!
will post pictures again when it is open all the way and turn beautiful yellow.

Oh, by the way, I normally don't stake the spikes, one because it looks unnatural, two because I'm afraid the stake might puncture through living roots.
Well, this paph produce rather thin spike for its flower size, so just in case it breaks, I put a stake over the weekend.

[NYCorchidman]

finally the flowers are open wide and looking beautiful

I guess the yellow color will kick in over time, but I still like the look. well worth the two years wait