Paph Grant Szabo never bloomed

[Teejay]

any help? I don't remember when I bought this, but I see on the planting stick I had repotted in sept. 2011!!!! It has 3 plants and seems to be healthy. The leaves are green and it is placed in bright light with a bit of sun in the late afternoon. This orchid has never bloomed. I was wondering if I should separate the plants and repot into individual pots? I just thought together they make a wonderful full plant. Name on stick: Paphiopedilum Grant Szabo (Delrosi x primulinum). I have been away from orchids for a few years, was ill and couldn't keep up with them, so I gave most away except a select few of which this was one I kept. I am fully recovered now and can resume my passion. I really would like to know how to proceed with this plant to help her bloom. Any ideas????
(Purchased at Firt Rays I think). Many thanks for any help

[WhiteRabbit]

Fans can only bloom when they have finished growing, and Paphs can be a bit slow in that regard - when did the fans start to grow (if you can remember) ? ... Dividing is not likely to be helpful.

How are the roots?


** thread moved to Cypripedium- Paphiopedilum Alliance forum **

[Fairorchids]

That cross may be difficult to bloom, as it has parentage from 3 different sub-sections [(polyantha x parvisepalum) x cochlepetalum]. That type of breeding tends to produce reluctant bloomers, and a few never do.

With the mixed parentage, I am not sure what to recommend for growing conditions. I am guessing at temperatures towards the higher end of the range, and possibly a little less shade than most Paphs.

[Teejay]

checked the roots and they look healthy. These three plants together are pretty good in size and full. I think the pot may be cramped with them, as the last fan is a bit smaller and looks a little cramped. Think I should repot into one size larger pot or maybe go s/h with it or is this paph not good for s/h?Thankyou so much for responding to my question.

---------- Post added at 02:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:02 PM ----------

Thankyou FairOrchids. I will put the plant a little further back from where it is, more shade there, maybe it will be just the push it needs......If this ever blooms in the near future, I will post a picture of it...Appreciate you and White Rabbit responding with help.

[MrHappyRotter]

Don't divide it. The larger it is, the more likely it is to bloom.

Generally anything with a cochlpetalum parent, such as your plant, will be on the easy side in terms of growing and usually blooming, but I suppose sometimes there are flukes.

Bright light sounds good, but do you know how bright your lighting really is? Have you measured it objectively? I'd say that's the first thing to look into.

For what it's worth, Paph. Delrosi can be a bit*h to bloom. Something about the hybrids between multiflorals and parvies seems to really cause genetic issues. So, unfortunately, that trait may have carried through, even with primulinum as a parent it's possible you simply ran out of luck and got a "bum" plant.

[NYCorchidman]

I agree with what was said above.
The sequential bloomer was added to hopefully make plants with Delrosi like flowers but easier to bloom, but you never know what you will get with the genetic jumble mumble. It's like a lottery.

Do not divide until it blooms. These can grow into a big clump before starting to bloom, and who knows, yours might be a jackpot?
Keep it for life and see if might surprise you some day.

Fingers crossed.

By the way, I have quite a few b**ches and I'm hoping for the best! hahahaha Cheers!

[Teejay]

thankyou. both for responding... Hopefully I will win this lottery, fingers crossed. It is on my enclosed lanai and gets daylight all day, and after 2pm direct sun on it thru the glass doors a safe distance away. It has done well in that spot, minus the blooming, but it still growing fans. As previously stated, I just moved it a bit back further to get more shade as suggested by another member. Well all I can do is wait and see.
Happy Holidays..

---------- Post added at 09:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:43 AM ----------

Forgot. Thinking about repotting this plant. Its been awhile, so maybe some fresh potting will help it along. Or, is it not such a good idea just now and wait until Spring? Ideas?

[silken]

Paphs don't like old media and if it is from 2011 that also could be a problem. Paphs don't seem to care what time of year like some other orchids and respond well to re-potting. It may even make it bloom.

[Teejay]

Great!! One repot coming up...busy day tomorrow! appreciate all the help on the forum, great to have orchid growers able to help out. Will Let you all see the results of this endeavor when and if it happens. If not, well I have a beautiful full fanned bi*ch paph!!! Merry Xmas to all and a Healthy New Year!

[NYCorchidman]

If you grow indoor in FL, I assume it is warm enough. and if it is in growing phase at the moment, repotting is perfectly fine.
Repotting in the spring is a very misleading idea. Repotting when roots are actively growing is more the correct way to look at it.
Also, if repotting must be done, it must be done anytime.

If your plants grows well and looks healthy, there is no need to move further back from the light source.
Less light does not help them bloom when the current light is good enough.

One more thing, repotting does not make plants to flower. Repotting just provides "cleaner" environment for the roots to grow and this of course help plants grow healthier and stronger.

Given the breeding background of your paph, it's most likely not old enough to flower yet or it's just being not so willing as is the case with paphs of this type of breeding.

I hope it will one day bloom and it will turn out nice!