Will a fifth fan bloom sooner than previous fans?

[PaphLover]

I have a Paph Z4440 x charlesworthii. Its third fan is in spike (first two previously bloomed, one in March this year), but I just noticed that the fifth fan also has a growth, which could be a new leaf and not another spike.

My question is... as the plant gets bigger and stronger (with five fans now), will the newest fan take strength from the previous fans and bloom earlier, or does each fan need to create enough strength to put out its own spike?


Photos: first two are to show number of fans, last one is to show new growth (spike or leaf) with confirmed spike in background.

[PaphMadMan]

It is the strength of the whole plant that matters. A lot of factors figure in, but if the plant is ready to flower you may see newer smaller growths flowering very shortly after the larger mature growth ahead of them. There may be growths between that will never flower. Some Paph species are strongly seasonal, others can grow and bloom at any time. Hybrids between them might not quite know what to do so they can have irregular patterns.

[Fairorchids]

Originally Posted by PaphMadMan

It is the strength of the whole plant that matters. A lot of factors figure in, but if the plant is ready to flower you may see newer smaller growths flowering very shortly after the larger mature growth ahead of them. There may be growths between that will never flower. Some Paph species are strongly seasonal, others can grow and bloom at any time. Hybrids between them might not quite know what to do so they can have irregular patterns.

Add to this, that bud initiation is temperature dependant in most Paphs. This contributes to species being so seasonal. You can trick them though,; if you manipulate temperatures in the spring to simulate fall, you will get summer blooms instead of winter blooms (on mature fans).

[PaphLover]

Thanks for sharing your expertise!

[PaphLover]

Also curious about repotting…
This plant seems to be growing quite well and rapidly (I think?), but I know charlesworthii specifically and paphs generally like to be 'under-potted' or in smaller pots. This plant is in a 3" pot. When I repot, do I just upgrade to a 4"?

First photo, June 2014, second photo, November 2015: