YAY!!:-dance:

My first real, in spike, multifloral, Paph came in the mail today. I was not expecting buds & blooms yet; just a beginning spike, but it seems like it made the trip just fine.

http://pic17.picturetrail.com:80/VOL796/117745/519734/95446249.jpg

The parents are Paph Topperi 'Krull-Smith x Paph Philippinense "Alford' AM.

http://pic17.picturetrail.com:80/VOL796/117745/519734/95446248.jpg

I'm not that familiar with multiflorals; haven't seen any except those in photos, so I'm not sure whether the flowers are normal or small. However, six buds on a first spike can't be too bad, yes??

I'm liking this! The blooms remind me of little birds in flight.

Best,
Susan

Nice choice Susan! :joy:

So, what I would *guess* is that in this hybrid, topperi was used as a parent to increase the amount of blooms per spike. As we've seen today w/ Peter's philippinense, phil can have a good many blooms, but on a mature plant. Whereas kolopakingii (topperi to some is either a var. of kolo or yet another example of speciation) is known to be a great producer of many blooms per spike. So, looks like it worked with your Temptation there!

BTW, Krull-Smith has 6 new FCC's to their name this past winter. Pretty cool! I've never ordered from them, but you know, now I am tempted!

You'll LOVE the multis, Susan....enjoy your Paph, and do post more photos when it is fully opened, PLEASE!

Excellent choice! :-dance: That hybrid will get large because of the kolopakingii parent and both parents produce many flowers on one spike especially kolopakingii. The flowers look very much philippinense dominant. Are they fragrant? I ask because kolopakingii is the only multifloral species to have fragrant flowers.

No fragrance. Perhaps, like some flowers, it only is fragrant in the morning?

But it is HUGE!! :ohmy: If it gets any bigger, I'll need a hand truck to carry it.
(only kidding) Right now, it has the very large blooming growth, another growth half that size, and a 2" new growth.

It sure beats begging my 3" baby Roth seedling to grow! :bowing:

Best,
Susan

beautiful :clap:

Here it is, only 4 days later. It's amazing how fast the blooms are progressing!

http://pic17.picturetrail.com:80/VOL796/117745/519734/95921948.jpg

http://pic17.picturetrail.com:80/VOL796/117745/519734/95921942.jpg

http://pic17.picturetrail.com:80/VOL796/117745/519734/95921936.jpg

http://pic17.picturetrail.com:80/VOL796/117745/519734/95921932.jpg

http://pic17.picturetrail.com:80/VOL796/117745/519734/95921927.jpg

http://pic17.picturetrail.com:80/VOL796/117745/519734/95921924.jpg

Hope I didn't slow down the system with all the photos! Could Not help myself!:evil:

Best,
Susan

Gorgeous, Susan!!!

Yeah, that's a large plant already! Just you wait! I always joke that in the evening, if I turn off all the machinery in my growing space, and listen very carefully, I can hear my kolopakingii growing. I really want a kolosand, but I don't think I can handle the size! :shock:

I think that the pouches on your hybrid look quite topperi influenced. But I'm so new...I just like analyzing hybrids to check and see how my knowledge is progressing. It is fun!

I can definitely see both the parents in that hybrid. Lovely plant!

Hi Heather & Pete,

Thank you for your observations. They are helping me to develop my "eye" for the differences in the plants. The pouches remind me of both the philippinense and kolopakingii. They are more defined and "helmet" shaped, angular, with sharp definition, like philippinese, but are perhaps more narrow like kolopakingii. Also the petals seem to look like those on Pete's magnificent philippinese.

It is fun learning the differences. Thank you for your comments!

Susan

Good eye, Susan! Yes, those petals are very phil like and the pouch has the characteristics of both the parent species.

There are also some nice red highlights (especially in the dorsal sepal) that aren't usually seen in either of the parents.

nice update, I'm with you, I need more training so I can see all of the differences

Beautiful flowers!
I'm sure I'll have one of those someday.
I'll have to work myself up to committing some serious space for one of those.

Thought I would check in with the 5'th bloom of this plant that is turning out to be a monster!! Heather said that if she turned off all of her equipment, that she could imagine hearing her plants grow. I agree. I'm almost thinking that if I just could stay still and linger over coffee in the morning, that I could see this one grow.

For what it's worth, here is the 5'th bloom on Temptation's spike, opening up today. You have to love the way the petals unfold and curl out. Really, this reminds me of bird's eggs hatching.

Check it out. The plant is doing great!

http://pic17.picturetrail.com:80/VOL796/117745/519734/96488750.jpg

http://pic17.picturetrail.com:80/VOL796/117745/519734/96488745.jpg

And here is another shot of the blooms:

http://pic17.picturetrail.com:80/VOL796/117745/519734/96488741.jpg

http://pic17.picturetrail.com:80/VOL796/117745/519734/96488733.jpg
[/img]

Best,
Susan

Truly wonderful, Susan! Thanks for the latest update.

I was saying last night, about my Phrag. wallisii opening that I think these plants are just miraculous!

Thanks for posting the latest updated photos! Very pretty! I love both the parent species.

Heather, I've been following the progress of your Wallisii and I love it! I have to check in on it every day to see how it is doing! I just bought some Phrags and can't wait until they spike! They are magnificent!

Hey, the fun thing about this is that I've gotten my 25 year old daughter (a horse, snake & herp person) into Slippers. She actually called me from work today to let me know that a florist down the street from where she works just got in a bunch of Paphs....and she even remembered the name of one variety: Supersuk! She NEVER listened to me when she was younger!:lol::lol:

Best,
Susan

Heather, I've been following the progress of your Wallisii and I love it! I have to check in on it every day to see how it is doing! I just bought some Phrags and can't wait until they spike! They are magnificent!

What'd you buy, Susan?
I'm glad we are all enjoying these progress pics. Being new to growing, I've never seen a lot of this before and I think it is a great way to show people new to growing what they can expect. I know a lot of people like to wait until all the blooms are fully open before they post, and I love those photos also, but this I find very educational.

I'm a total sucker for ebay auctions and picked up 2 previously bloomed Phrags for very little money. They are huge and very healthy, and have multiple growths. One is Sorcerer's Apprentice, and the other is Eric Young 4N x Lindleyanum 'Birchwood' AM/OS. I know that buying from ebay is risky and that I may have bought culls, especially if previously bloomed. However, I am willing to take a chance, especially if the price is right! :Party: With that in mind, I buy for the learning curve and am willing to take a risk if the plant has potential and is relatively inexpensive.

I also have a young unbloomed, Phrag Mary Bess, which should turn out to be a red one. This will take a few years, as the plant is quite small. Still, I expect to have a positive experience with the Phrags and hope to post photos of blooming ones.

I love watching these magnificent plants as they go thru all the stages of spiking and blooming. I will keep photographing Temptation's 5'th bud and the last 6'th bud as they open.

This plant makes me humble.

Best,
Susan

Susan! You like the big ones, no? I hope you have a lot of room! Congrats on your purchases. Sorcerer's Apprentice is officially banned from my house. Well, actually, anything else with longifolium in the background, and lindleyanum was NEVER allowed. :lol:

I do want a gigantifolium someday.
Pete sent me a great longi pic a while back....let's see if I can find it.

Hmmm, well, I found it but when it tried to upload it, it couldn't find it - looks like someone took it off his server....:?
Pete? Can you post for me?? It's a cool pic.

Which longi pic are you refering to? Let me know and see if I can find it.

Bloom # 5: This photo was taken 2 days after it started to open. Bloom #6 is in the background. Actually, it is still a bud. It is just fascinating to watch these open. The Multiflorals are really something else!!!

http://pic17.picturetrail.com:80/VOL796/117745/519734/96748977.jpg

Best,
Susan

I am really liking this hybrid, Susan!
This is a good example also, this last bloom particularly, I can really see how "helmut" shaped the pouch is from the phil. At least I think that's what I am seeing!

I love watching the opening progress, especially also being new to multiflorals and in general. I rush home from work every day, very excited to see what has happened!

Yes, that helmet shaped pouch is definitely from the phil parent.

I can see the pouch shape coming from the Phil. I think the pouch is just a bit narrower than the pouch on the Phil. Either that, or the later blooms seem smaller than the first blooms.

But this is my first multifloral and I am learning. Do the later opening blooms get bigger after they open? Or do the blooms get progressively smaller on the spike?

The slippers are definitely addictive! I could easily spend a full day watering and taking care of them.:Shh: I unflasked and compotted two flasks this afternoon and observed myself talking to the little baby paphs! Fortunately, my husband saw me talking to the babies and thought that it was prefectly normal!!! :lol:

Best,
Susan

I DO spend a day a week with my plants, watering and checking, I really enjoy and look forward to my time with them. I have to move the process along though because now that my business is open to the public again, I have to work many weekends, so I have chosen Mondays for this special day.

I can't wait until tomorrow! Yip! Yip!

(Oh and :Shh: My SO was teasing me and insulted one of my plants last night, and I apologized to it, out loud! Poor plant, no negative energy allowed!)

It's a rainy Sunday in New England. Time to water the Paphs and to post the 6'th and last bloom to open on the Temptation. :-dance:

http://pic17.picturetrail.com:80/VOL796/117745/519734/97573212.jpg

http://pic17.picturetrail.com:80/VOL796/117745/519734/97573205.jpg

http://pic17.picturetrail.com:80/VOL796/117745/519734/97573199.jpg

It was fun (and educational) to watch the buds opening in sequence and very rewarding to look at the plant in full bloom!

Susan

Nice shots, Susan.

Aren't you guys just SICK of this NE weather? :mad: I hate it! *stomps foot*

Excellent! Beautiful hybrid and thanks for sharing!

Thanks, Heather & Pete!

Yes, this rain is driving me screaming yellow bonkers! And it's supposed to rain all week, so I've been told. :jawdrop:

As an aside, how are you able to post those little photos next to your screen names? I tried with a photo of one of my Paphs, but it would not work. The file is too large and I don't know how to shrink the file. I know I'm a little off topic, but any advice will be welcome.

Oh well, back to building my ark!

Susan

Very nice Susan! Man it iskind of cold here this weekend. Lows in the 60's . I wore pants and a sweatshirt all day yesterday. Brrrrr.

I know, same down here - raining raining raining, and if it isn't raining it is cloudy and raw and cold!

Susan, to get the avatar uploaded, your pic has to be under 80 x 80 pixels I think. You can choose one from the gallery as well. I had hard time getting a couple of mine to resize correctly, so Pete actually helped me out. Maybe when he get's back he'll have some advice for you also.

Stay warm! :therethere:

Susan, you can upload and use your own avatar but make sure to resize your photo to 80 x 80 pixels before uploading. Hope this helps!

Thanks Heather & Pete!

Figured the avatar thing out! More fun things to do in the rain!:Party:

Susan

Thanks Heather & Pete!

Figured the avatar thing out! More fun things to do in the rain!:Party:

Susan

Oh yes, just noticed in another thread....looks great!
So where'd you get you're roth? If you don't mind my asking? Thanks!

YIKES! Ebay! :Shh: I'm very impuslive that way. Perhaps too trusting. For the most part, I've been very lucky. Yes, I have bought paphs that were advertised as B/S and were far from it. Live & Learn. I just have to live longer to see them bloom. :lol: I've gotten to know the sellers who advertise that way and now really scrutinize anything before I bid.

I'm finding it more fun to take the occasional chance on something, like a P/B division for little money. Large plant, but not in bloom. I realize it may be a cull, but I'm just learning and you make mistakes when you learn. I just try not to make expensive ones.

I sell on ebay, so that is why I am used to it. And, breeders who are mentioned on this Slipper Forum like Suncoast Orchids are regular sellers on ebay and quite nice to deal with. I don't sell orchids on ebay. I buy them. :evil: I try to sell antiques when I can get my hands on them! (It is not easy these days, even in Maine!)

Other than that, I try to offer things people might like. It is fun selling.

Best,
Susan

This is a bittersweet post. This bloom is the last one that remains on the spike of the Temptation. Even with one bloom, the overall effect of the entire plant is arresting.

http://pic17.picturetrail.com:80/VOL796/117745/519734/99393116.jpg

Always a sad time.
Lovely photo, I enjoyed them all! Thanks so much for sharing!

Yes nice photo, quite dramatic actually!

The philippinense added suberb twisting to the petals. The dorsal has nice striations! Great addition!

Ahhh!!!

The last bloom is still on the spike and it reminds me of a lonely bird in flight!


I did not want to rhyme, but that was all I could do. Thanks for looking!!!

Last photo of the last bloom. I really promise!!! The photo was taken with my Home Depot Mystery Vini. For some reason, whenever I have these two Paphs together, they remind me of Michaelangelo's Fresco of the Creation in the Sistine Chapel. I don't have a clue as to why. :confused:

http://pic17.picturetrail.com:80/VOL796/117745/7580217/99836224.jpg

The photo above was taken today, June 8th 2005. I will certainly miss that last bloom!!!

Susan, lovely photos and thanks for sharing! :D

Seems like your plant stayed in bloom for a good 4-5 weeks. Is that normal for this hybrid?

I don't know. This is my first one. Can anybody help????