Question about blooming Paphs

[gngrhill]

I have 8 Paphs, one species, one primary hybrid a couple of small hybrids and the rest are the bulldog type hybrids. All of the plants look fantastic, lots of new growth, but no sign of spikes on any of them. I have them near, but not directly under the t-5s, temps are ranging around 65 to 70F days and 55-60sF nights . Watering just to keep moist, not wet. Fert. lightly once or twice a month. Am I missing something or am I just impatient ? I see everyone else posting pictures of blooms and posting about spikes and I have to wonder what I'm doing wrong.

[PaphMadMan]

Your conditions should be fine for the bulldogs. Without knowing what your others are I can't comment. There are at least 5 distinct cultural groups of Paphs with a range of needs in each group. All Paphs will usually only bloom on the most recently matured growth, and if the plant wasn't ready there isn't another chance until the next growth matures, often a year away in types with strongly seasonal growth patterns like many bulldogs. We should be coming up on peak bloom season for bulldogs in general, but it isn't too late so watch those closely. Names might let me make more specific comments.

[My Green Pets]

I have read that keeping them a little cooler and a little dryer in the fall/winter can spur flowering. Either way, I think they will bloom for you when they are ready. They are testing you

Good luck!

[Paphluvr]

Originally Posted by gngrhill

I have 8 Paphs, one species, one primary hybrid a couple of small hybrids and the rest are the bulldog type hybrids. All of the plants look fantastic, lots of new growth, but no sign of spikes on any of them. I have them near, but not directly under the t-5s, temps are ranging around 65 to 70F days and 55-60sF nights . Watering just to keep moist, not wet. Fert. lightly once or twice a month. Am I missing something or am I just impatient ? I see everyone else posting pictures of blooms and posting about spikes and I have to wonder what I'm doing wrong.

You don't mention how long you've had them. Have any of them matured a new growth since you've had them? The small hybrids especially may just be too immature to bloom.

[gngrhill]

Originally Posted by PaphMadMan

Your conditions should be fine for the bulldogs. Without knowing what your others are I can't comment. There are at least 5 distinct cultural groups of Paphs with a range of needs in each group. All Paphs will usually only bloom on the most recently matured growth, and if the plant wasn't ready there isn't another chance until the next growth matures, often a year away in types with strongly seasonal growth patterns like many bulldogs. We should be coming up on peak bloom season for bulldogs in general, but it isn't too late so watch those closely. Names might let me make more specific comments.

Thanks for your reply. Here are the names :
Paph. Milmorre (?Milmome) 'Roman Blood' x Hamana Samson 'Royal Flush'

Paph. Fairly Sauced

Paph. Yerba Buena 'White Cap' x Stone Lovely 'Partner'

Paph. (Ang-thong var. alba 'in charm' x Niveum) xNiveum 'in charm'

Paph. Alien (P. supersuk 'Eureka' x P. Raisen Pie 'hsinying') x sib

Paph. Ruby Peacock 'Red and Black' x Paph. henryanum 'Jamboree'

Paph. birbigerum

---------- Post added at 02:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:16 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Paphluvr

You don't mention how long you've had them. Have any of them matured a new growth since you've had them? The small hybrids especially may just be too immature to bloom.

Thanks for your reply:
I have had the Alien for 2 years it has one new growth since I got it. Was in bloom when I got it.
the 2 species I just got this fall. One was in bloom so I don't expect another bloom on that one now, the second has not bloomed yet.
All the others I got last Jan-Feb and all were in bloom when I got them. All have put up new growths

[PaphMadMan]

Originally Posted by gngrhill

Thanks for your reply. Here are the names :
Paph. Milmorre (?Milmome) 'Roman Blood' x Hamana Samson 'Royal Flush'

Paph. Fairly Sauced

Paph. Yerba Buena 'White Cap' x Stone Lovely 'Partner'

Paph. (Ang-thong var. alba 'in charm' x Niveum) xNiveum 'in charm'

Paph. Alien (P. supersuk 'Eureka' x P. Raisen Pie 'hsinying') x sib

Paph. Ruby Peacock 'Red and Black' x Paph. henryanum 'Jamboree'

Paph. birbigerum

---------- Post added at 02:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:16 PM ----------



Thanks for your reply:
I have had the Alien for 2 years it has one new growth since I got it. Was in bloom when I got it.
the 2 species I just got this fall. One was in bloom so I don't expect another bloom on that one now, the second has not bloomed yet.
All the others I got last Jan-Feb and all were in bloom when I got them. All have put up new growths

First, lets be clear on the names...

Milmoore (that's the spelling you want) x Hamana Samson is Paph. Naomi's Refined. A classic red/brown bulldog with spotted dorsal most likely.

Yerba Buena x Stone Lovely is Paph Green Genes, a typically green and white bulldog.

Along with Paph Fairly Sauced, these bulldogs are approaching the usual peak bloom season, but really can bloom almost any time of year when they mature a growth. If they were in bloom last year at this time you might expect blooms anytime up until May or so, but if you don't see buds soon they will probably wait until the next growth. A little cooler next fall into winter and a little brighter all the time might increase the chances. Really be careful about over-watering if you take them below 50F though, and probably not below 45F.

The species Paph barbigerum is a bulldog relative and needs essentially the same care, just not quite as bright usually. It will bloom on a much smaller plant though, and usually in summer.

Paph (ang thong x niveum) x niveum would be officially recognized in registration as Paph Mystic Isle, but there is some controversy about the identity of Paph ang thong - natural hybrid, a species of its own, or the same as Paph godefroye. Your plant is mostly niveum regardless, so it will stay quite small, would prefer warmer temps (no colder than 65-70F nights year round), needs light as least as bright as the bulldogs, and can flower in any season though May-October is most common. Cool temps will really slow it down when it would prefer to be growing actively, and be very careful about over-watering then. It is an example of a Brachypetalum (subgenus) Paph, though others of them may prefer a cooler dryer winter.

Supersuk x Raisin Pie is Paph Hsinying Alien, a typical Maudiae-type Paph. Should be a vigorous easy blooming weed. Keeping it warmer, 65-70F lows, is the key to keeping it in active growth. Then it should be capable of blooming 2-3 times a year as each new growth matures. A bit less light than the bulldogs is best.

Ruby Peacock x henryanum is Paph Peacock Stars. Ruby Peacock is a Maudiae-type hybrid like Hsinying Alien. Paph henryanum is a small bulldog relative species. Sometimes that type of hybrid is a bit finicky to grow and reluctant to bloom. I would treat it the same as Hsinying Alien. Might be most likely to bloom in fall.

[NYCorchidman]

What he says.
One thing I might add is these plants may not bloom every year. While majority of my bulldogs bloom faithfully every year, certain plants are slow to mature and bloom every other year.
I have had a few Paph. Mystic Isle.
Some bloomed again within one year's time frame.
I gave away most. One with the largest flower of the bunch is now budding in a little over two years.
Phew~ these little guys are slow as snail.

[gngrhill]

Wow! Thank you Paphmadman for all that excellent information. All that name info is fascinating. Thank you also Nyorchidman for your input. I guess I just need to be more patient. It's just so frustrating when so many are posting pictures of blooms and spikes. I can't help thinking "where are mine ?"

[Fairorchids]

Young Paphs (= BS, but not multi-growth plants) usually take 16-18 months to grow the second fan to maturity. Thus, even though purchased in bloom, they rarely bloom the following year. As plants grow larger, they will grow new fans to maturity faster.

Most Paphs need 2-3 weeks of cool nights in Aug-Sep to initiate new buds. If you bring your plants outside in the summer, this happens automatically.

If you keep them indoors, you may not have enough of a temperature difference. This is particularly so for sub-genus Paphiopedilum (and thus the bulldogs). Less so for Maudiae types.

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

Most Paphs need 2-3 weeks of cool nights in Aug-Sep to initiate new buds. If you bring your plants outside in the summer, this happens automatically.

If you keep them indoors, you may not have enough of a temperature difference. This is particularly so for sub-genus Paphiopedilum (and thus the bulldogs). Less so for Maudiae types.

We don't get cooler nights until late October or early November. Will this merely delay bud initiation, or will they get confused with shortening days and warm nights?