Time to stake (Paph bud/bloom)? - Orchid Board

The Mutant · #1 05-08-2012, 05:55 AM

Is it time to stake my darling now? Or is it even necessary? I really don't want it to look down on its roots when it finally opens (in a week maybe).

This is how it looks now:

The bud:

Susie11 · #2 05-08-2012, 07:37 AM

Personally because it is a single bloom - I think- I would just let it be without staking it up. It is standing proud already so why ruin it with a nasty stake? If it was leaning to one side or wasn't erect then I would have staked it but yours seems to be able to hold it's own so to speak. Maybe someone else will have a different view but I would let it be lovely on it's own.

lily99 · #3 05-08-2012, 02:24 PM

I usually don't bother to stake mine. The blooms look up more as they open.

The Mutant · #4 05-09-2012, 01:53 AM

It IS leaning but you can't see from this angle. I think I won't stake it then, as long as the flower won't look down on its roots I'm happy, I don't care whether the spike is straight or not.

Lagoon · #5 05-09-2012, 06:47 AM

It looks like the bud still has some lifting to do before it opens. I never bother to stake just 1 flower, it should be strong enough on its own.

Lookin good!!

RJSquirrel · #6 05-09-2012, 08:38 AM

I say no not yet..BUT I learned from Duane when he was a regular that the ovary needs to to be dried and stiffened up some before you stake. The ovary is the long part between the spike and the bud.That should be mostly dry and erect before you stake it. If you stake it now the ovary will dry up at an angle and you really will have a weeping slipper. The ovary doesnt look like its quite dry or done moving forward and up.

You can stake it if you want for a learning experience to see how the ovary will hold up.

this is an ovary or seed capsule and how it should look, of course yours have a flower.

#7 05-09-2012, 09:08 AM

Wow, the bud looks awsome! Way to go! Such a long spike. Looking forward for pic of the bloom.

The Mutant · #8 05-09-2012, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagoon

It looks like the bud still has some lifting to do before it opens. I never bother to stake just 1 flower, it should be strong enough on its own.

Lookin good!!

Yup, I think it is - there will be no staking this baby.

Thanks! I'm SO excited I barely know what to do with myself. In the mere two days (?) since I posted the picture I took of the bud the very same day, it has grown even more. I can now see the "warts" or what I should call them on the petals AND the lip/pouch has started to outgrow the dorsal! Wee!

Quote:

Originally Posted by orchideya

Wow, the bud looks awsome! Way to go! Such a long spike. Looking forward for pic of the bloom.

Thanks! Although I can only take credit for keeping it alive and growing since the Paph was sent to me with a spike. I'm so glad it didn't blast and hopefully I'll be rewarded my fussing over this poor little Paph with a beautiful flower.

camille1585 · #9 05-09-2012, 02:57 PM

I think that in your excitement you forgot to mention the name of this budding beauty.

I never stake anything, unless the spike is clearly going the wrong way, or it's a hybrid with many heavy blooms

The Mutant · #10 05-10-2012, 01:53 AM

I thought everybody knew which one it was!

It's my Paph ceramense or bullenianum var. ceramensis or whatever its name might be... Asendorfer sells this as ceramense, but they also sell the celebesense, which, according to slipperinfo, are are synonyms, celebesense and ceramensis that is, so I honestly don't know what to call it...