Stalled malipoense bud...

[Heather]

I got this plant in bud in the middle of October. At the time, it looked like it was getting ready to open, it was/is partly open, actually. I'm attaching a couple photos to show the "progress" or lack thereof, maybe the spike has grown a little, but not much! The first was right after I received it, the second taken tonight, then a close up of the bloom (really blurry but you'll get the picture I think, sorry!)

Any clue what's going on? The spike is only maybe 9" tall and I know they generally bloom on very tall spikes.
Thanks in advance for any insight into the problem!

[TADD]

Actually Parvisepalum type paphs will often set a spike, and make you wait 6 months. Malipoense in general is a very slow grower. It will open eventually maybe January, or February, or March.... They are very frustrating when they do this. Good Luck!
Peace,
Tadd

[Heather]

cool, I'm not really much of a parvi girl, so my first experience w/ 'em. I guess it has opened a lot more, judging from the pics. I'll be patient, just didn't know why it would open halfway and not anymore.

It's a weird little thing. Not my fav. plant, but maybe when it blooms I'll fall in love...that happens sometimes...

thanks!

[LJA]

A lot of times you can get a stalled spike to growing again if you just move the plant somewhere where the conditions are a little different: a little more or less light, that kind of thing. Also, changing up your watering / fertilizing routine and amount can have the same effect.

[Heather]

Hmmm, I've wondered about that a lot! It was twisting a bit so I moved it into more and faced it towards the light. Also, it arrived in sphag, of all things, but I repotted in my regular mix and I am not sure it liked that. I've wondered if humidity might be an issue, but have waterered a bit more frequently than others and now have a humidifier which is keeping the growing area a nice moist 65% but that is as of yesterday that I've finally gotten it up there, before humidifier I was having trouble getting up to 40%.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

The bud in the third photo does appear to be a bit dry. The repot may indeed have had something to do with the stall. Hopefully it will, with a change of location, pick back up where it left off.

Cheers!
BD

[Heather]

Thanks, hard to tell much from that wretched third pic, but I think it looks dry as well. FWIW, that little brown spot has been there since I got it. At any rate, hopefully one of these days it will perk up and get growing again.

[Jmoney]

like tadd said, the yunnan parvis can take their time developing buds, and malipoense is the most notorious of them all. 4-6 months even.

[Heather]

pfft!
Actually, I've got a couple of these guys, they really aren't my favorites, I much prefer the green, long leaved paphs, but the fragrance won me over on this one. I'd like it to bloom, very much. Thanks.

Hey, Jason? The Sox WON!!!!!

If that can happen, anything can!
Tried today to get tix for opening day against the "daddies" - no dice..

[Heather]

In the last week, since my humidity has increased, the bud has opened more.