Some Paph questions

[Elena]

Well, it looks like the bloom on my lovely Paph Miller's Sunset is pretty much on its way out already Now, what do I do with the spike? Cut it all the way down? Also do these types of paphs bloom from new growth only or will it develop the next spike (whenever that might be) on the same one?

Unlike my Rosy Dawn, which has the main plant with the spike and two small growths, this one is just one big plant with two pairs of leaves. Should I be expecting/hoping for more new side growths (technical, I know) or just more leaves and for the plant to get bigger over the summer?

I'm also going to have a good look at its roots and see if it's needs repotting tomorrow, I think.

[smartie2000]

It will bloom from a new growth. The old growth will help the new growth mature.
cut the stem off with sterile scissors if you want, or just let it dry before cutting. When the stem is dryed it is easy to break off usually. Then no diseases can get in.
You should be expecting a new side growth soon... Your plant was a division and I think someone just pulled it off a mature plant. They usually send a new growth before blooming, even if it's a tiny little nub

[Elena]

that's pretty much what I suspected.

Another question - as the plant matures, should I be expecting for it to produce an increasing number of new growths/blooms every year? Or is it always just the one?

[smartie2000]

more growths on a mature plant because each old growth can produce a new one as it multiplies, and the plant will have more energy stored.
Some plants do produce more than one growths per a old growth. I had 3 growths on a Paph Vanda M. Pearman in the same spot this year. The section brachysepalum does that sometimes, your plant does contain some of brachy (because it'a complex white, it has paph niveum in it) but I don't know if it will inherit this characteristic.

[Elena]

That makes perfect sense, of course. Duh!

I actually just got a mini Maglite out and I think there's a tiniest little something growing at the base of the plant. I going to watch it like a hawk now to see what it turns out to be.

[IdahoOrchid]

That makes perfect sense, of course. Duh!

I actually just got a mini Maglite out and I think there's a tiniest little something growing at the base of the plant. I going to watch it like a hawk now to see what it turns out to be.

A watched growth, be it spike or new leaves, will NOT grow while it is being watched!

[Elena]

A watched growth, be it spike or new leaves, will NOT grow while it is being watched!

Unfortunately I'm all too familiar with the phenomenon but then it's impossible not to look when you know it's there Just sat not doing much except mocking you and waiting for you to turn your back so it can suddenly triple in size.

[Kerry]

Unfortunately I'm all too familiar with the phenomenon but then it's impossible not to look when you know it's there Just sat not doing much except mocking you and waiting for you to turn your back so it can suddenly triple in size.

Um, Elena, I think that you might be getting a little bit too paranoid about your plant's motives! ...... But then again, maybe you are on the right track... it might explain why those Phals of mine keep growing new leaves instead of sending up a new spikes... if it was on purpose!

[Elena]

Oh trust me they do that on purpose. I was waiting for a Dracaena cutting to develop roots just recently - dunking it in KLN, watching it carefully and nada. I forget about it for 2 days, check it again and it has several fat roots almost a cm long

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Oh trust me they do that on purpose. I was waiting for a Dracaena cutting to develop roots just recently - dunking it in KLN, watching it carefully and nada. I forget about it for 2 days, check it again and it has several fat roots almost a cm long

Isn't this always the way it goes! It sometimes seems our plants are watching us. LOL

Cheers,
BD