Paph. spike issues?

[Dante1709]

I recently bought this paph. hybrid with a small bud peeking through the leaves..It enventually grew a spike, and only recently did I notice that it the sheath was beginning to open. I haven't staked it (and as a beginner, I don't have any stakes available to me) and it's only about 1-2 inches above the newest leaf.

I slightly bent the leaf ("popped" it downwards, if that makes sense), however, without doing this, the bud is directly touching the leaf.

I have no idea what to do ; it already lost 2 leaves as a part of senescence, and may lose another one..So I don't want to cut off the top leaf to allow it to grow...Will the spike straighten or grow more?


IMG_1686 by Dante1709, on Flickr

[RandomGemini]

It won't straighten out, but a lot of orchid growers don't stake their spikes, so I can't imagine that being a problem for it. Stakes are more about what's pleasing to the eye, than about what's best for the plant. It should be fine as is.

When I went to my local OS meeting this week, there was a gal there that had several paphs in bloom and none of hers were staked at all, so I don't think it's anything to worry about.

[Troythediver]

I concur. Sometimes a natural arch looks even better.

[Dante1709]

I'm just afraid once the fan opens and flower blooms, it'll be touching the leaf and end up deformed or something. Like I said, it's only an inch or two away from the leaf.

[Bud]

Very nice. I don't think the spike is long enough to stake it. The leaves are pretty even with no flowers, so I don't think you should keep on cutting it for cosmetic reasons. Let it just fall of by itself even if it shrivels and dry=as long as it is doing its job as a leaf and manufacturing food for the plant.

[NYCorchidman]

I see the information on the yellow tag and I have two of the same cross, one with dark leaves like yours and the other light green leaves.
They both have amazing dark flowers with great shape. Please post flower pictures when it opens up!!! I would love to see how yours open up to be!

Ok, with the excitement aside now,
you do not need to stake these slippers. I only spike certain complex hybrids whose flowers are so large and heavy that staking is a must if I am to enjoy the flowers alive. lol

Now, slippers like this one usually grow long and straight spike that is also very rigid and strong enough to hold its flower.
One issue can be that some spikes respond to the light source more than others and may bend toward one direction. This can be corrected by turning the pot a little bit every day.

Your spike is very young still. They always look like this, head pointing downward.
As the spike grows out, it will straighten itself.

[Dante1709]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

I see the information on the yellow tag and I have two of the same cross, one with dark leaves like yours and the other light green leaves.
They both have amazing dark flowers with great shape. Please post flower pictures when it opens up!!! I would love to see how yours open up to be!

Ok, with the excitement aside now,
you do not need to stake these slippers. I only spike certain complex hybrids whose flowers are so large and heavy that staking is a must if I am to enjoy the flowers alive. lol

Now, slippers like this one usually grow long and straight spike that is also very rigid and strong enough to hold its flower.

One issue can be that some spikes respond to the light source more than others and may bend toward one direction. This can be corrected by turning the pot a little bit every day.

Your spike is very young still. They always look like this, head pointing downward.
As the spike grows out, it will straighten itself.

Thanks! I was a bit worried about the flower opening on the leaf and deforming, or having the flower hide behind it.

I absolutely love the foliage on this paph ; can't wait to see what the flower will be like! I'll definitely post photos once it does bloom.

[NYCorchidman]

That oval shaped thing you see at the end of the spike is not a flower bud yet. It is the cover of the bud.

You will soon see the bud coming out of it. You still have a few weeks to go.