Circa 1993 Paph. Delrosi

[Silverwhisp]

So, one of our local orchid society members passed away last month. His plants were auctioned off at our society meeting, and one that I bought is a Paph. Delrosi, with a tag that begins with the year 1993. It’s a 5-growth plant; a 6th growth broke away during repotting. I don’t know whether he ever bloomed this plant.

Whats the best cultural approach? I’ve read old posts here; some recommend a tough-love/ try and kill it method for these earlier crosses. Cold and dry winters; hot summers?

 

[littlefrog]

Unfortunately some of those are foliage plants... I'd go with bright light (cattleya light?) and see if that does it. And maybe cool temperatures in the fall, although neither parent really needs that.

 

[tomkalina]

These old Paph. Delrosi's are almost (?) impossible to bloom. We had one clone from the old Clement's Collection that had 1973 written on the name tag and we could find no evidence it had ever bloomed. We tried everything from cool/dry to warm/wet, fertilize heavily/ fertilize lightly and on and on...and nothing worked. I think more recently hybridized clones have a better chance at blooming.

 

[Silverwhisp]

Rob and Tom,

Thanks for your input. I’m pretty patient, but not 20+ years’ worth!

I have to say, the foliage is lovely.

 

[tomkalina]

You can always grow it one as a foliage plant and hope for the best as far as blooming it. That's if you have enough space.

 

[Silverwhisp]

Thanks, Tom. I have do enough space, at the moment.

 

[Linus_Cello]

Does the tag indicate the Roth parent? Some Roths are reluctant to bloom; if it's one of these, then yes a foliage plant (I have 2 of these as foliage plant, and 3 dolgoldi's also foliage plants).

 

[Silverwhisp]

Linus—unfortunately, it does not.

 

[Greenpaph]

Pat,
I have a Delrosii from the Bill Romanoff collection. I have had it for at least 25 years. I only bloomed it once a few years ago! Brought it from very light (Cattleya) to a shadier spot. I agree with Tom K. Get a more recently made hybrid.

 

[Silverwhisp]

Pat,
I have a Delrosii from the Bill Romanoff collection. I have had it for at least 25 years. I only bloomed it once a few years ago! Brought it from very light (Cattleya) to a shadier spot. I agree with Tom K. Get a more recently made hybrid.

Oh dear! Once in 25 years.... well, by that calculation, mine should be about due (2019-1993 = 26 years)!

 

[Ozpaph]

Give it high light for a year - then the rubbish bin

 

[Silverwhisp]

Give it high light for a year - then the rubbish bin

Thanks. It’ll definitely get a year. High light is no problem, either.