At last! Paph Oto in bloom

[WhiteRabbit]

First time blooming! Six long years in the making

I got this six years ago, as a moderate sized seedling. It's been a slow grower, and the original fan matured (3 years ago ?) , but died without blooming. This is one of two fans from that original growth - I accidentally separated them when repotting a couple of years ago. The other fan has a nice bud coming along. (Both fans have new growth of their own)

I'm a bit undecided about this - but has a nice big flower: 4.5" across, 4" vertically, and I like the color
Leaf span is about 12"

Growing in a 2" (3" deep) plastic pot, fine fir bark mix.

Thanks for looking

[reliablefool]

I really like this. I'm usually not one to go for the more "bulldog"/complex looking paphs, but I think the color has won me over on this one.

[NYCorchidman]

Congrats!!!
So this has finally bloomed for you.

I also like the color very much!
Is it a red complex with a fairrieanum in it? Somehow I think I see fairrie influence, like a dark version of Fairlystoned plant, you know what I mean?

Well, you can give it another year and see if they bloom well from now on. If not, then, you know, it'll make the decision making much easier. hahaha

[DeaC]

OH WOOF! Who let the dog out?! Remarkable bloom and one to be proud of! I'll decide for you-it's a keeper! Happy Holidays!

[silken]

Looks good to me! Congrats on blooming it.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by reliablefool

I really like this. I'm usually not one to go for the more "bulldog"/complex looking paphs, but I think the color has won me over on this one.

Thanks - I like the color, too

---------- Post added at 04:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:32 PM ----------

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

Congrats!!!
So this has finally bloomed for you.

I also like the color very much!
Is it a red complex with a fairrieanum in it? Somehow I think I see fairrie influence, like a dark version of Fairlystoned plant, you know what I mean?

Well, you can give it another year and see if they bloom well from now on. If not, then, you know, it'll make the decision making much easier. hahaha

Thanks!

Yes, good eye! - it is Winston Churchill 'Redoubtable' X fairrieanum.

I think my "problem" with blooming these has been a lack of patience (once I stopped over-watering; not enough that the plant looked over-watered, but roots left something to be desired). I know I was disappointed when it did not bloom last winter, but then when the fan started growing a new leaf in spring, I realized that it couldn't have bloomed last season, since the fan hadn't finished growing yet! Same for my delanatii - I was hoping it would bloom last spring, and was disappointed it didn't, until the biggest two fans both started new leaves - just not done growing! ;p Keeping fingers crossed that that one will bloom soon!

I do like the flower, especially the size and color - I had been unsure how I felt about the shape, but, I do like it afterall. But it is a space hog! The one mature fan is 12" across! The good news is, that with it still in a 2" pot, I can tuck very small plants inbetween this and it's other neighbors

---------- Post added at 04:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:42 PM ----------

Originally Posted by DeaC

OH WOOF! Who let the dog out?! Remarkable bloom and one to be proud of! I'll decide for you-it's a keeper! Happy Holidays!

Hehe Thank you!

---------- Post added at 04:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:43 PM ----------

Originally Posted by silken

Looks good to me! Congrats on blooming it.

Thanks!

I've been slowly getting some long-time non-bloomers blooming! An issue with this one (and my other Paph) has been a lack of patience, I guess ... Slow growers

[NYCorchidman]

Great parentage! The result makes perfect sense, right?
Well, the size is the thing about these plants, but yours at 12" is probably considered small because none of my bulldogs is that small. My smallest leaf, not the entire plant, is longer than 12". lol

I have a little over 11 complex in bloom or in bud/spike. Some have two spikes. Yay!
These are the good ones in terms of growing and flowering performance.
Then I have a few that has no signs of spiking but I know they have enough leaves.
I'll give them one more year.

I had a very nice large spotted complex and one green complex with fairrie hybrid, that bloomed every other year.

Then I had a couple of green complex that never flowered but grew like weeds! I actually have kept one. It is getting big with 4 new fans from this year alone, but none of them are spiking. I am going to give one more year and then toss.

The good news is that among the ones that are in bloom or in spike now are the ones that I like the most, so I'm lucky!

[bethmarie]

Majestic.

[Ray]

I have two of these just throwing their first spikes. I can hardly wait!


Ray Barkalow
firstrays.com

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

Great parentage! The result makes perfect sense, right?
Well, the size is the thing about these plants, but yours at 12" is probably considered small because none of my bulldogs is that small. My smallest leaf, not the entire plant, is longer than 12". lol

I have a little over 11 complex in bloom or in bud/spike. Some have two spikes. Yay!
These are the good ones in terms of growing and flowering performance.
Then I have a few that has no signs of spiking but I know they have enough leaves.
I'll give them one more year.

I had a very nice large spotted complex and one green complex with fairrie hybrid, that bloomed every other year.

Then I had a couple of green complex that never flowered but grew like weeds! I actually have kept one. It is getting big with 4 new fans from this year alone, but none of them are spiking. I am going to give one more year and then toss.

The good news is that among the ones that are in bloom or in spike now are the ones that I like the most, so I'm lucky!

Yeah, I see such gorgeous (but huge Paphs) at the San Jose Orchid Expo - I'd love to have one, but just no space

Congrats on all your spikes!

---------- Post added at 05:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:04 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Ray

I have two of these just throwing their first spikes. I can hardly wait!


Ray Barkalow
firstrays.com

Awesome! It's so exciting when a plant gets it's first ever spike! Especially when it's a seed grown plant, wondering what it will turn out like

---------- Post added at 05:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:05 PM ----------

Originally Posted by bethmarie

Majestic.

Thank you!