Paph villosum bloom time?

[dbarron]

Bear in mind, I'm new to paphs (this year in fact).
Ok, from my research, these plants usually peak in bloom in the wild in April and May (internet sources).

I noticed a week or so ago what I suspected was a bud sheath emerging on one of my two villosums. I can now confirm that the sheath has grown, doesn't have a flat edge like a leaf and more balloonish, and contains something dark in the bottom center.

Is it likely it will stay in the sheath till spring ? It seems to be growing rapidly for that to me, but from what I read, they can stall for months?

I have them outside still, because it's not gotten colder than about 50F yet, and I read that the native climate gets down to about 8C, and it prefers it cool. However, I suspect my temperatures will take a tailspin by the end of the month and I'll have to bring them in.

[WhiteRabbit]

[silken]

I looked it up in Orchid Wiz. It does say the cooler temps of winter are said to induce blooming. And the main bloom time is around Feb. and March in the northern hemisphere. But the chart shows it does bloom year round except around Aug.

I don't think it will sit all winter. It will likely continue to slowly develop and depending how big it is now, will bloom in a couple months.

I don't grow this one, just going by what Orchid Wiz says.

[MrHappyRotter]

There's a listing on ebay right now with an in-spike P. villosum, so I'd go out on a limb and say that's a good sign now is the season.

[dbarron]

Well thank you...more than I knew
I'd still love to hear from someone who grows this species, I am sure I'm not the only one.

[Fairorchids]

Normal blooming time for villosum is Jan/Feb.

However:

all Paphs will initiate buds with a 2-3 week cool nights treatment, so they can be timed to bloom at any time of the year. Most bloom 5-6 months later, some (such as malipoense) take up to 8 months.

flower color varies with temperature during bud development time. Many red Paphs will come out more brown if they bloom during summer & fall.

[dbarron]

In early August we had a truly unseasonable cold snap for a week, it got into the 40s at night. I'm guessing this is probably responsible for the bud set. We've had intermittently 60 degree nights and 50 degree nights varying from week to week since...apparently enough to keep it trucking along.
Thanks Kim.

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

...all Paphs will initiate buds with a 2-3 week cool nights treatment, so they can be timed to bloom at any time of the year....

How cool? Probably varies with the species, depending on what they experience in habitat?

How many nights in a row?

Wondering whether overnight refrigerator (not freezer!) treatment would work, for those species tolerating such temperatures.

[dbarron]

I have a feeling Kim is going to be on target...here's a photo I shot this week...and the bud is advancing pretty quickly.

[My Green Pets]

I have a villosum seedling that should bloom next year hopefully. I love this species as well as graxtrixianum and insigne, those big waxy flowers are just wonderful.