Flower "length" in paph.'s

[Meg25]

Here is a question for the paph. heads out there:
Is the length of time that flowers last on a blooming plant of the multifloral types shorter then others? It seems like the "prince of york" types with long petals or those with many flowers open at once couldn't possible last very long.

I know that delenatii and it's hybrids are not long bloomers, and of corse many other paph species and hybrids will bloom perfectly for months then drop dead. Do you feel like you sacrifice bloom time in exchange (so to speak) for many flowers open at once? -Meg

[bench72]

From my experience with multiflorals (mainly with Paph philippinense and a couple of it's hybrids ) the blooms tend to last a fairly long time... ie at least two months. So, I would say you do still get a fairly decent display... and yes they do last a lot longer than the parvisepalum types which I find last maybe two weeks, but not as long as say some of the complex bulldogs.

Unfortunately I haven't had much experience with Prince of York though I wish I could but my plant is maybe too young

[smartie2000]

complex bulldogs and other of the Paphiopedilum section (eg. insigne) seem too out last all the others, and complexes get nicer colour as they age (yellows and whites).
Maudiae types (barbata section) also last very long.
Any paph that seems to have a thick, shiny, waxy texture should be expected to last very long generally.

I haven't experienced multiflorals enough to comment. My Paph Judge Philip lasted long enough to make me happy last year, and it is in sheath again now

I am always afraid of my parvisepalum and brachysepalum blooms fading away. I take care to keep them out of too much direct sunlight. So far my Vanda M. Pearman is still looking good.
hmmm...perhaps a properly lit and humid wardain case could temporarily house the plants and keep the blooms longer than my windowsill?

I've also read of keep plants cool to extend their blooms