Slipper Orchid Murder - Ruled Accidental

[Phillip C]

Yesterday after a trip to the nursery, my wife, Maura bought a beautiful blood red paph that she was very proud of. This paph had a nice young stem topped by a gorgeous bud . One she could train the stem in a straight manner and it promised to have championship colors.

Well, now I am a convicted paph murderer after having unintentionally stepped directly upon it's bud. It flattened it. I was wondering if this pqph have q chance at recovery? Will it somehow miraculously fill back out and flower? Please say yes, so that I won't spend the rest of my life paying my debt to the public around here. I am just glad we don't have the death penalty. This, of course was the finest specimen at the nursery, but I will try to replace it with an obviously inferior plant if there is no hope for survival.

I know Maura is placing photographs of this otherwise fine specimen in another post, but believe me it remains flat after spending the night in intensive care. Please tell me if there is a chance of recovery for a fully flattened pqph flower bud.
Phillip C (Paph Killer)

[Bill in NYC]

no recovery.......hope it will bloom again in the future

[Brutal_Dreamer]

No hope, Phillip, but you can make it better by buying Maura three or four new orchids. Surprise her with an orchid a week subscription or something. I bet that would make it a little less tragic.

cheers,
BD

[Phillip C]

I have no pictures of the result of the crime as Maura is busy taking pictures to show the results. The stem didn't break, the bud is flat though. The only theory of defense that can be raised is that it was an accident that resulted from the paph being on the floor and unsure feet trying not to step on anything else being used to repot flowers spread out on the floor. Basically I'm pleading guilty to the crime and asking for leniency as it was accidental. I'm sure you can see the pictures were ever she posts her indictment.

[pavel]

The bud is a lost cause. At least the plant will survive to bloom again.

[Phillip C]

Hey guys, that is what I was afraid of. I am now branded as a paph killer. Bruce your suggestions are excellent. If we had the death penalty, I think we would be looking for a suitable limb from which to string the noose. No doubt I will come home with a few more orchids, but alas there is no replacing this one. It had 'prize winner written all over it - gulp. Thanks for the advise.

[Phillip C]

Thanks Pavel, cold comfort at the moment, but you are right, the plant wasn't damaged in the carnage.

[mauraec]

I read another thread where something similar happened, but I don't recall reading any indictments or convictions of "paph murderers" on it. It was just a plea for ideas about wht to do with the damaged plant, but this must have been a different incident entirely -

What an absolute witch you must be married to! Forget about trying to make this up to her by buying her a new plant and lecture her on the fact that this was JUST a plant and she should get her priorities straightened out. Or else.

[Phillip C]

Actually I am not in that much trouble and the bad feelings stem from me feeling like such a clumsy clod. Why I had to crush the one she was most excited about I don't know, but I did. There is no threatened punishment and certainly no death penalty being considered, I was and am beating myself up for such a clumsy act. Maura is much to kind to hold my clumsy actions against me. I am indeed a lucky man as a lesser woman would at least have me in the doghouse and I am not even there. After all, it's just a flower and I know I can find some at least as good. Thanks for the cold hard truth about this bloom, I expected as such, but hoped you experts would have a way to save it. Thankfully no death penalty or even bad feelings sans my own for having done it. Thanks again.

[panam]

I'm glad you're still here with us, Phillip!