There's Somethign Coming and I'm going crazy!!!

[NYCorchidman]

This is going to be just a stupid rambling.
I have this Paphiopedilum Vanda M. Pearman bought from Parkside last February.
It was a mature size with two growths (never bloomed).

Each time it grew leaves, I would peak in at the center of the plant and hope it would be a spike.

Now after a brief pause, it is back in action and I see something is emerging from deep down there at the center, but too early to tell. It's just dark hollow space there but definitely something's coming. You know what I'm talking about if you're a paph person.

I wish I could see into the future because this waiting is driving me nuts!!! is it yet another leaf? or is it a spike?
Would it be pretty or ugly? ......

and I'm going to Deepcut next week and probably buy something from Parkside again. lol

[WhiteRabbit]

Hehe - I know how you feel! I've been carefully watching one of mine recently, too!

[lotis146]

Oh my, yes I know how you feel! I remember in probably early summer of last year posting that I thought I had sheaths or what-not coming on my Paph. Lebaudyanum then they browned. Maybe it was you NYC that told me maybe they were rotted leaves. Low and behold the "leaf" grew more and just the tip had rotted. Then some months later I saw once and for all the real deal!! Now this same plant has two fans growing a new leaf each and I'm crossing my fingers that it won't be long - judging from the first that bloomed - until they both send up a spike! And they're about the same age/size so that would mean two multi-floral spikes!

Ok, deep breath, yes I get it, oh do I get it. Can't wait to see what you discover.

[NYCorchidman]

How was the flower??

Well, I have another one (at least) that has been driving me crazy, but sort of given up now.
My Paph. Delrosi (notorious for not blooming) gave me two fake "spikes". They were hairy and dark tinted leaves. now, I see something more coming, but it's been almost half year this thing has been fooling me and I'm like, ok, whenever you're ready.
but this Vanda M. Pearman is not supposed to be a tough one, so rather troubling.

All the Roth X parvi hybrids I have, I seriously will keep them until I die to see the flowers. hahahaha
can't believe I say this because I throw away anything that does not produce flowers for over two years.

[RosieC]

I know I'm late to this... was it a bloom?

I just wanted to comment because someone here on OB taught me years ago that you can tell what it is at the earliest stages by gently gripping the fan between your fingers right at that point where it's emerging and griping the two 'flat' sides of the fan. If it's a flower bud in there you should be able to feel it, if it's a new leaf then it will be flat, but with a new bud you can feel it in there. I've done that every time I suspect might be about to flower and it's given an accurate result with all of my Paphs. Of course I only have a few so maybe it doesn't work on some

[NYCorchidman]

Well, it was "just another leaf". lol
I guess I'll have to wait a while again.

My Paph. Delrosi is doing the same thing. It's been fooling me.

When the bud is coming, the base does swell up a bit. You don't need to touch the plant, you can see it.
Well, my Paph. Gloria Naugle has been fat at the base since last summer and still making more leaves.
These plants are driving me crazy!!!

Exactly the reason I stayed away from, but I gave in and got a whole bunch of them now. What have I done to myself?!!! hahaha

[RosieC]

Ah, not easy if they are fooling you like that. I love Paphs, but don't have many.

If I had the time to keep more plants slippers would definately be what I would get more of. Last purchase of orchids included two new Cyps, because those are slippers I find easier to care for as they are in the garden.

[NYCorchidman]

If I had a garden, I would also love to have some winter hardy lady slippers.

For now, just "tropical" ones.
My two flowering sized Delrosi have been fooling me for a while now. They do grow like crazy. I would say parvi x roth hybrids grow like weeds!
My Dollgoldi (only two) are adding more leaves and more babies on the side just like Delrosi, but at least not fooling me. no signs of spiking there. lol

Gloria Naugle seem quite lazy for me. hahaha

Ah~ wouldn't that be nice that one day I will have a great looking flower on one of these?