Paph - Bulldog types

[orchidsarefun]

I have 2 which have grown new fans like crazy. Only problem is - no flowers. I have sprinkled oyster shell, osmocote in moderation - and they have appreciated this. Any tips on getting them to flower ? Even a local nursery grower told me he has problems in getting the bulldog types to flower.....

[bellini girl]

If all the cultural needs are being met..it may be that the plant has a specific time to bloom. It's growing new fans so I'd say you're doing something right. Hang in there

[WhiteRabbit]

Well - so far I have no blooms from my bulldog Paph either I have been told they like a fair amount of light.

How long have you had yours?

[Ray]

I tend to grow my complex paphs in close to cattleya light levels, and they do pretty well.

[orchidsarefun]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

Well - so far I have no blooms from my bulldog Paph either I have been told they like a fair amount of light.

How long have you had yours?

1-2 years, they both have spikes from previous flowering - 1,2,3 fans ago.
I have them outside with my catts, they are getting watered at least 2x per week.........and I am going to leave them there until about October.

[Ray]

What is your feeding regimen?

[orchidsarefun]

I bought 1 directly from Klehms and I noticed he had those long-lasting granules heaped up in the pot. So I have used those on both when I moved them outside. ( osmocote - the only brand I could find ). Prior to that they were indoors on the weakly/weekly regimen. I also introduced oyster shell, sprinkled on the mix. Indoors they received filtered sun, outdoors its more like filtered shade. The other major difference is the temperature outdoors - we have had a unbroken stretch of temps into late 90s during the day. Indoors I don't go above 78f
I realise Osmocote is not long-lasting at temps above 70f, but I do replace and its better than nothing !

[RosieC]

I've not had a problem with my complex Paph, when the fans mature they flower. However a fan can take 2 years to mature! When I first had it I thought I would never get it to flower and thought I was doing something wrong. But I've since learnt its just a case of being patient. Mine currently has 7 maturing fans at different sizes (as well as still holding 5 flowered fans) and when I checked it yesterday I think thel oldest un-flowered feels fat in the base (the first sign of a bud forming). That would be about right as that fan is has been growing sine the summer before last.

I grow mine in the same light as my Phals (east window behind a sheer curtain) along with my other paphs as well. I water and fertilize like the Phals as well (weakly weekly, but often forget and it goes dryer than I would like).

[orchidsarefun]

hmmm.....guess I just have to be patient. I have never outdoors-ed them so maybe that will do the trick.

[NYCorchidman]

Bull dog types do not need strong light. The misconcept stem from the fact that many multi flowering type paphs need fairly high light to grow and flower well, and these have plain green leaves also.
So many literature incorrectly say mottled leaves need low light and green leaves need higher light.

Many bull dogs do need a few weeks of cool nights to initiate flower spike and to flower better and larger.
This is why these are commonly sold around winter time. Their natural flowering season.
If you live in mild climate where it doesn't get too hot, then these can flower about any time of the year.
Temperature is the trigger for flower production for these.

Also, as Rosie points out, these guys can take longer than a year for their new fan to mature and finally flower. I have one that flowers every other year.

You have many fans going, which is great! Soon you will be rewarded with many flowers then! yay for you!!!