How long do Paph Leimianum flowers last?

[krienschmidt]

Hi everyone and Happy Spring, My Paph Leimianum gave me a beautiful flower, it has been in full bloom for about 2 1/2 weeks now and today I just noticed a big brown patch on the bottom of it's pouch. This is my first Leimianum, did I do something wrong or is this natural for the flower getting ready to drop? As always thank you for your help. Barb.

[WhiteRabbit]

[PaphMadMan]

2.5 weeks is a little short, but within normal range. 4-5 weeks is about maximum, giving just enough time for the next flower to open and enjoy them both for a couple days. The nice thing about Paph liemianum and its relatives is there can be that next flower, and the next, and the next, every month or so. Yours may be naturally on the short-lived side, or environmental stress or some physical damage to the flower can shorten it. Keep it on the cool side, and humid, don't let it get too dry and don't move it or touch it too much and you will maximize whatever time it has.

[krienschmidt]

PaphMadMan,Thank you for the information. Can you tell me if the flower will fall off like a phrag or will I have to cut it off? If so where do I cut it, by the stem or just under the bud? Sorry for all the questions, I'm new to this orchid and for some reason I have had problems finding detailed info on the net.

[PaphMadMan]

The flower may fall on its own. If it doesn't it will easily break off where the back of the flower attaches to the ovary. No need to cut anything. The ovary may persist for a bit but eventually it will also dry out and be easily removed.

Paph liemianum is less commonly grown than some of its very close relatives. Paph primulinum and Paph glaucophyllum, and the hybrids between them like Paph Pinocchio, are the more commonly grown ones. Any information you find about them applies about 99.5% to Paph liemianum too. They are just slightly more heat tolerant.

[krienschmidt]

Thank You Again!