Old growth on Paphs

I hope this hasn't been covered before, but how long are previously bloomed growths on Paphs supposed to stay alive? It seems I can keep them going about 1 1/2 years, maybe two after they have bloomed. Then they just croak.

Also, in theory are they supposed to keep on putting out new leaves on the old growth after blooming? I can't remember any of mine doing that, but noticed today that my delenatii is. I just snipped off the flower about a week ago. Normal for that guy?

Thanks

Kev

old growth longevity depends on plant type and health. robust plants should hang onto them for a while, some may hang onto them for a very long time, others seem to die back at a set time. it seems to me that younger plants tend not to maintain older growths as well as large established plants. my theory is that the minerals & water stored in the old growth are put to use (knowing full well that paphs don't have pseudobulbs, but I think they store some quantity of energy in the old growths).

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Jason

seems to me like it varies depending on plant type, health of plant, and maturity. some last forever, some seem to senesce once a certain time period has been reached. mature healthy plants seem to hang onto them longer.

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Jason

Kev, what you're describing sounds perfectly normal. It takes some Paphs many, many years of maturity before they put out enough multiple growths that last long enough to give you a huge clump. And on the other hand, some hold onto their growths for eons, it seems. This is far from being a general rule, but it's seemed to me that the longer any certain Paph takes to bloom, the longer it'll hold on to its growths after blooming. And, there are always going to be exceptions to that....

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Louis J. Aszod

Thanks guys. Now that I think of it, the ones I'm referring to or thinking about seem to flower every year on each new growth, so I guess they must be satisfied with my care and are not trying to freak me out.

K

I've never had an old growth continue to put out leaves after blooming. I keep them around as long as they are still green. I have had an old growth put out a new growth a full year after blooming so I wouldn't cut it off until it begins to turn color.

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Garland
Midlothian, VA
"You know, the only people that are weirder than us are the dog show people...and we are not a distant second by any means." Joe Kunisch

Good point, Garland. I've never seen a Paph or Phrag put out a new leaf after blooming, either. That spike is the growth's crowning glory.

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Louis J. Aszod

Here's the deal:

Both of you are WRONG

and right

It did start producing another leaf, but I just checked and it looks like it isn't going to do anything. In other words, it's drying up.

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