staking paph blooms

[mysbhvn]

I bought a couple of paphs today. Their blooms are getting ready to open. Is it necessary to stake the bloom or does the plant hold it up on its own? Is it better to stabilize them regardless?

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Stake them to support the bloom. Many will stand on their own, but the orchid spike can become twisted or bent depending on where hte light comes from and how much they are moved around.

cheers,
BD

[mysbhvn]

Thanks Bruce! I so love that I am able to ask a question and get a quick answer!

[cakedaddy]

I don't usually stake mine. It really depends on the light source I think. I grow my paphs under lights in a north facing window and the spikes are strong enough to support the bloom. I do tilt the pot a bit so that the bloom sets in such a way that when the pot is put at it's normal position, the bloom faces out, not down.
Posted via Mobile Device

[mysbhvn]

It amazes me that one can have so much control over the blooms on these plants. I'm going to keep an eye on these two to see how they are doing where they are. They are protected from a south facing window by a couple of phals and artificial lights a short distance away to give them a little bit more light.

[cakedaddy]

The thing to remember as far as manipulating flower orientation is concerned is that they nod naturally. The dorsal acts a bit like an umbrella-keeps water out of the lip/pouch to prevent rot. You just have to manipulate the angle of the light source to trick the plant to set it's bloom to a "suicidal" orientation.
Posted via Mobile Device