Paphiopedilum Wayne Booth

[D_novice]

I got two large Booths last winter; a Wayne Booth and a Susan Booth. Both have many mature growths, WB has five plus at least that many young growths, but had no sign of ever having bloomed.

I repotted them when I got them, they were busting out of five inch pots, just solid roots, they're now in six inch pots.

Well the Wayne Booth has bloomed (and SB is in bud) - it has one flower spike with one open bloom and two buds.

Here is my question(s): is it typical for a first blooming to start with just one spike? I thought such a big plant might give me more, but maybe it's because it's the first bloom?

Also, 3 blooms - from google images it looks like Roth types have 3-5 blooms. If mine has three on the spike, is it likely to have three/spike forevermore? Or does that change in future flowerings.

Also, I've heard that Rothschildianums are slow to get started, but this is a hybrid. Is the same true for Roth-type hybrids?

I'll try to post photos later when more of the buds open.

[estación seca]

It sounds like you're doing really well, and you should be proud of yourself. We would love to see your flowers.

Any plant has to build up enough mass to make enough surplus sugar via photosynthesis to make the first bloom spike. This takes longer with most orchids than with most other plants, and longer with paphs than with most other orchids.

With paphs, the plant should bloom on each new growth once blooming has started, if the grower takes proper care of it. Older growths usually don't bloom because they weren't big enough to bloom when they formed.

First blooms of any orchid are usually smaller, less numerous and less beautiful than subsequent blooms. Plants don't make huge, magnificent bloom spikes until they're a lot larger and can generate all the sugars necessary to form a large bloom spike.

Hybrids may grow faster than species. But the same restrictions apply: the plant has to be big before making big bloom spikes.

This is also why people recommend not dividing paphs unless necessary. One large plants makes a much better show than several smaller plants that, in aggregate, are the same size as the larger one.

[D_novice]

It's interesting, because you'd think these plants were already specimen-sized. The growths aren't small - it doesn't look like a Catt or Laelia where the first / old growths are small compared to newer ones.

Any way, I guess time will tell, but I hope you're right. And that I can keep these plants alive long enough to see what you're talking about.

[estación seca]

The Roth types are very much larger than the other types. They almost look like Agapanthus when not flowering. A single mature Roth fan would dwarf the spotted leaf types.

[D_novice]

Don't have the usual soda can for perspective, so dog food can.

And, not a professional photographer, obviously! iPhone 5 with flash. But gives a general impression.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Wow that is one cool bloom. I seriously have to try one of these some day.

[dbarron]

Due to my own floral prejudices, I'm not usually a fan of the long finned approach on paphs, but I have to say that's a very nice looking flower.
I see your secret is to feed it dog food, interesting

[rgebczynski]

That flower is absolutely beautiful!!

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[D_novice]

Dog Food is my secret to successful orchid-raising! Of course, now that I said the word "success" and "orchid" and "me" in the same sentence, tomorrow I will probably wake up to catastrophic bacterial rot. Not that I'm superstitious, mind you....

Earlier post, I said I had a Susan Booth in spike. I looked at it, it's Leroy Booth, which is (Susan Booth x kolopakingii) x Susan Booth. So 3/4 Susan Booth. Should be interesting, not a very common cross from what I've been able to find. Maybe it's on this forum somewhere.