Paph. Chonsuke Atsugi
 

Conco-bellatulum x rothschildianum

I think this was an Orchid Inn acquisition. Just opened overnight; I'm hoping it will flatten a bit.

The only AOS award listed in Orchid Wiz is a reciprocal with 3 flowers and 2 buds, with redder flowers and a natural spread of 14.2 cm. This single blossom (I assume due to the Conco-Bellatulum being the seed parent) is currently at 15.5 cm NS. Behind my hand is a bud on another growth.

I'm not likely to get it judged, but it IS a keeper.

Grown in S/H culture in a 1 quart (~5" pot). My tap water is quite pure @ ~110 ppm TDS (tested by JR Peters Lab), of which about 1/2 is added Ca by the town to compensate for the sourness brought about by 25 ppm S. It is flooded about 3-4x/week in the hot, hot summer. I apply ~100 ppm N K-Lite weekly, 1 tablespoon/gal Kelpak monthly (lately, a second time in the month, especially when in active growth) and Quantum-Total @ 1 oz/gal, also monthly.

Give it a few years and have it judged. I was surprised to find Paphs grow much better with a lot more nitrogen than most people use.

super cool one, ray! so...got any tips for new paph growers on how to ensure the buds form so perfectly? im sure you’re thinking, “but it isn’t perfect”, but compared to our couple paph flowers it is!

the few we’ve had all have twisted or warped hoods and the sepals are usually slightly different lengths and one is twisted.

perhaps this isn’t the thread for that, but we’d love to hear any advice on blooming perfect paphs! tia!

That’s a beauty!