Paph question

[OrchidTraci]

I was just wondering how many leaves on a new paph growth are needed before it will bloom? Or do the # of leaves mean nothing? Or is size of leaves the important factor? Or is this WAY to broad of a question without a specific paph?

[Jmoney]

It means something, but it's hard to quantitate. The number of leaves depends on a bucketload of factors--type of paph, quality of the roots and plant health in general, how stressed the plant is after the previous blooming, probably moon phase too.

I'd estimate in general maybe 4-6 leaves, not counting the first couple baby ones. After 3-4 full size leaves, that plant oughta be thinking about blooming. But I've had paphs/phrags that skipped blooming on a mature growth and put up a new growth...this new growth grew rapidly and bloomed after just a few leaves. I've also seen particularly vigorous paphs that bloom, start a new growth, and bloom while that growth is only half mature and much smaller than usual.

[Cinderella]

How many leaves typically on a first bloom?

[LJA]

Cinderella, four to six (including younger "baby" leaves) is pretty typical, but a lot depends on the type of plant. "Number of leaves" is not a good way to tell--leaf size is a much better indicator.

[OrchidTraci]

Cinderella, four to six (including younger "baby" leaves) is pretty typical, but a lot depends on the type of plant. "Number of leaves" is not a good way to tell--leaf size is a much better indicator.

I guess I should have added size into the origional Q. Of course, I was on a one sided thought. Lemme see if I can edit still....

[LJA]

Or is this WAY to broad of a question without a specific paph?<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Pretty much, Traci. Compotted Paph. seedlings with leafspans half the length of my pinky will still have 4 or more leaves on them--and, depending on type of Paph., can be years and years from being blooming sized. The key to knowing is determining what the blooming sized normal leafspan is for the type of plant, then comparing that to the leafspan of the one you're looking at. And even then, just because a plant is appropriately leaf-sized, there's still no guarantee that it will bloom until the following year yet!

[Jmoney]

Yes, sometimes paphs won't bloom on the first growth at all. The multiflorals are notorious for doing this. At best they will usually bloom on a large first growth and a healthy start, but not always...

A paph will have 4-7 leaves at any given time, on average. I have a buy.com mousepad they sent me free with an order--it is about 12"x18" with big capital letters "SIZE DOES MATTER", and the same is true with paph leafspans.