http://www.flickr.com/photos/45750268@N03/sets/72157623089518076/
This is an Orchids Limited, Plymouth, MN cross that we think is the first to bloom of the cross. The cross was made on 5/1/04 and the seed was harvested on 12/3/04. It was in flask until 2/22/07, a little over three years. This bloom is thus about 5 years from seed harvest and a little less than 3 years out of the flask.
The widest leaf span is 25 cm and the plant has eight leaves with two new growths. The flower itself is 12 cm NS width and 6 cm NS height from top of the dorsal to the bottom of the pouch.
Crosses of Paph niveum (a brachypetalum subgenus) with polyantha subgenous paphs (e.g rothschildianum, stonei, philippinense, kolopakingii) are often reported as difficult to grow and flower. In 2007 in this forum, Jason Fischer, from Orchids Limited, reported on a 3N Woluwense (rothschildianum x niveum) remake using a 4N niveum as the pod parent that seemed to be easier/faster blooming than older crosses made with rothschildianum as the pod parent. It was not clear if this was the 4N influence or just the use of niveum as the pod parent.
http://www.slippertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3194&highlight=Woluwense
This current cross used a very nice 2N niveum as the pod parent and a 2N Lady Isabel (rothschildianum x stonei) and still achieved blooming within 3 years from the flask. Although using niveum as the pod parent may be helping the growth and blooming, it is also possible that more recently developed rothschildianum species and hybrids (like the Lady Isabel used in this cross) are growing and flowering faster than older roth specimens and hybrids.
The seedling that I purchased was grown in an indoor basement plant room under wide-spectrum fluorescent lights, about 10 inches (25 cm) from the tubes. The plant was grown in LECA (Hydroton) as medium but not really with semi-hydro technique. The plant sat in a saucer and was flushed with Green Jungle (Orchids Limited) fertilizer solution each week (2 tablespoons per gallon reverse osmosis water, which produces about 125 ppm N). It was then lightly watered with straight RO water every 1-2 days to prevent salt accumulation and to keep roots moist but not saturated. The pot was always able to freely drain. The day length was varied from 15 hours in May/June (temps 80-85/65-70) to a short day period of 11 hours in October during which day temps were 70-72 with night temps of 55-60. Spring and Summer began in November. If you are wondering why October was the depth of Winter, it is because my cool down happens when I open the plant room window and September and October are best for this since it is too cold for nearby plants if I open the window in November/December.
I noticed the beginning of the flower spike in this plant about September when days had shortened and temperatures had begun to fall. I slowly felt and then saw the spike develop, becoming gradually more anxious over the three months.
This is an Orchids Limited, Plymouth, MN cross that we think is the first to bloom of the cross. The cross was made on 5/1/04 and the seed was harvested on 12/3/04. It was in flask until 2/22/07, a little over three years. This bloom is thus about 5 years from seed harvest and a little less than 3 years out of the flask.
The widest leaf span is 25 cm and the plant has eight leaves with two new growths. The flower itself is 12 cm NS width and 6 cm NS height from top of the dorsal to the bottom of the pouch.
Crosses of Paph niveum (a brachypetalum subgenus) with polyantha subgenous paphs (e.g rothschildianum, stonei, philippinense, kolopakingii) are often reported as difficult to grow and flower. In 2007 in this forum, Jason Fischer, from Orchids Limited, reported on a 3N Woluwense (rothschildianum x niveum) remake using a 4N niveum as the pod parent that seemed to be easier/faster blooming than older crosses made with rothschildianum as the pod parent. It was not clear if this was the 4N influence or just the use of niveum as the pod parent.
http://www.slippertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3194&highlight=Woluwense
This current cross used a very nice 2N niveum as the pod parent and a 2N Lady Isabel (rothschildianum x stonei) and still achieved blooming within 3 years from the flask. Although using niveum as the pod parent may be helping the growth and blooming, it is also possible that more recently developed rothschildianum species and hybrids (like the Lady Isabel used in this cross) are growing and flowering faster than older roth specimens and hybrids.
The seedling that I purchased was grown in an indoor basement plant room under wide-spectrum fluorescent lights, about 10 inches (25 cm) from the tubes. The plant was grown in LECA (Hydroton) as medium but not really with semi-hydro technique. The plant sat in a saucer and was flushed with Green Jungle (Orchids Limited) fertilizer solution each week (2 tablespoons per gallon reverse osmosis water, which produces about 125 ppm N). It was then lightly watered with straight RO water every 1-2 days to prevent salt accumulation and to keep roots moist but not saturated. The pot was always able to freely drain. The day length was varied from 15 hours in May/June (temps 80-85/65-70) to a short day period of 11 hours in October during which day temps were 70-72 with night temps of 55-60. Spring and Summer began in November. If you are wondering why October was the depth of Winter, it is because my cool down happens when I open the plant room window and September and October are best for this since it is too cold for nearby plants if I open the window in November/December.
I noticed the beginning of the flower spike in this plant about September when days had shortened and temperatures had begun to fall. I slowly felt and then saw the spike develop, becoming gradually more anxious over the three months.