paphioland
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LI= 5 cm dorsal, 1.6cm pw, 18 cm ns
this is a single growth plant with no start.
this is a single growth plant with no start.
That is the nicest Lady Isabel that I've ever seen! Wow, what a dorsal, synsepal, wide, flat petals and great pouch colour! If it's a single growth with no start, I'm REALLY sorry to say it; but, you'd be foolish to not cut that spike right away! That's a sure sign of a death bloom. You need to interupt the bloom cycle and force the plant to switch over to growth mode and sprout a new start. If you let that stem stay on, when it's done, you've got a super good chance that the whole fan will wilt and die soon after blooming. That would be a crime! Cut the spike; but, save some pollen and grow that plant into something more substantial.
Yes, maybe it's more sure but I thought that if the plant is in health and have lots of and good roots, it was not a problem; The new growth will come after the bloom cycle, no?
"Yes, maybe it's more sure but I thought that if the plant is in health and have lots of and good roots, it was not a problem; The new growth will come after the bloom cycle, no?"
Well, nothing is written in stone. This plant may be just fine and grow normally after blooming. It's just that both roth and stonei (the parents of this cross), usually have multiple growths before the first bloom and even when there is just one growth, there is usually a good start on the way. Any Paph, especially a strap-leaf type, that blooms on a single growth with no start is at risk of wearing itself out so much that it doesn't have the strength to begin growing after the bloom is gone.
There are always exceptions. I'm sure that anybody who doesn't like what I'm saying can cite an example of a single growth plant (with no start) that bloomed and then did just fine. However, what I'm saying is that in those cases, there is a high risk of blooming the plant to death. I've lost a few plants by not sacrificing the first spike, in cases where the plant had no starts and was just a single growth.
One time, I lost a $900 Paph. St. Swithin because I let it carry a spike while just a single growth with no start. I was advised by a friend to cut the spike; but, I just couldn't. When the flowers were finished, the plant immediately went downhill (despite the good roots it had), and died!
I've learned this lesson a few times, the hard way and now I never take a chance with something special. If there is no strong start on the way (1/3 grown or bigger), I cut the spike and let the plant grow some more before letting it carry any flowers. It has been my practical experience that this is the best policy.
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