Paph bloom discoloration
 

Hello, my first paph rebloomed. However, it has a line on its lip which I do not remember. It started at the top and has spread down the middle. Is it sunburn? Is it cause for concern?

In many orchids the first few blooms are distorted. You'll need to wait and see what happena.

Ok thank you. Is there anything in particular that causes these distortions?

I don't think anybody is certain. Smaller, younger plants might not have enough resources to develop flowers to their full potential.

The occasional flower problems are often blamed on irregular watering during bud development (which takes 5-6 months in most Paphs, and up to 8-9 months in Paph malipoense).

I can't tell whether this stripe is just discoloration (unusual in an album, which has no pigment other than chlorophyl), or damaged tissue?

Either way, if it bloomed normal the first time, it is probably a 'one off' event.

Interesting; my bud only took about a month to form. I am glad this is just a “one off”. My only concern is if it spreads given that it started only a dot. It continues to almost leak out from the middle vein. I have seen that some paphs have the exaggerated veins but I’m not sure that’s what this is.

From the time that you can clearly see the bud, it only takes 'Maudiaes' (mottled leaf hybrids) 4-6 weeks to open the flower. However, the bud formed several months before you could see it (buds develop very slowly initially).