Help! I have a concolor and a primacolor

[abax]

that are outgrowing 8" pots. I'm talking big plants with
several new leads. Fantastic looking roots, foliage, very
healthy plants. It appears that neither plant has EVER
bloomed. I'm using K-Lite. My gh conditions seem ideal
for Paphs. in all respects. Are there some Paphs. that just
don't bloom for whatever reason? I need some serious
advice.

 

[NYEric]

I've heard of never blooming/sterile plants but I hope they're just slow bloomers. I know there are stories on STF of people waiting 13 - 15 years before getting some paphs to bloom.

 

[likespaphs]

how long have you had them?
in how much light is the concolor?

 

[Bob in Albany N.Y.]

My first thought would be not enough light. Do you have other paphs. sitting next to them that bloom faithfully? My thoughts would be to try to slowly easy it into more light. The goal here is to get the leaves used to the higher light without burning. Is putting it outside in the summer a possibility? Remember the key word in my post is slowly.

 

[fibre]

My first thought would be not enough light. Do you have other paphs. sitting next to them that bloom faithfully? My thoughts would be to try to slowly easy it into more light. The goal here is to get the leaves used to the higher light without burning. Is putting it outside in the summer a possibility? Remember the key word in my post is slowly.

I absolutely agree. In addition to this treatment, give it a strong rest in the winter.
If strong light + strong rest doesn't work -> give it away!

 

[likespaphs]

speaking of rest, would someone clarify what it means
does it mean not watering it for a few weeks/months? does it mean just reducing the water (maybe giving it 2/3 or 1/2 as much as usual?)

 

[abax]

Plenty of light and other Paphs. blooming and in bud
around them. Outside is a no go...too many critters like
chipmunks and squirrels, not to mention raccoons. They do
get a coolish rest in winter (60F max. low and less water).

I've had them about a year and a half. They adapted quickly and are growing extremely well.

12 to 15 years....aaacccckkkkkkkk! I'd like to be alive to see it if they ever bloom!

 

[fibre]

Plenty of light and other Paphs. blooming and in bud
around them. Outside is a no go...too many critters like
chipmunks and squirrels, not to mention raccoons. They do
get a coolish rest in winter (60F max. low and less water).

I've had them about a year and a half. They adapted quickly and are growing extremely well.

12 to 15 years....aaacccckkkkkkkk! I'd like to be alive to see it if they ever bloom!

Calm down. If you grow the concolor next to other Brachys, it will bloom next season. To fail the first year in a new environment isn't quite unusual.
But don't forget, it needs quite a lot of light all year long! Give it as much light as possible (like a Cattleya or evan a Vanda)!

speaking of rest, would someone clarify what it means
does it mean not watering it for a few weeks/months? does it mean just reducing the water (maybe giving it 2/3 or 1/2 as much as usual?)

A strong rest to my Paphs means: reduce watering to 1/6 or almost nothing in at least the darkest days of the year. Give some water when the leafs wrinkle. Start your usual water regime again when you see little buds or starters or otherwise after about 12weeks.

This would be my treatment with a concolor that dosn't like to bloom.

 

[keny_zhao]

i have another methods:
stop waterring until your media become dry (but not complelty dry out). it's better to keep your pot slowly dry. keep in dried condition for 3 weeks (note: you must spay a bit water if it so dry.)
then bringing them into somewhere colder (about 15oC), keep in 2-4day (not require continuous)
after all, bring it back to you garden, let temperature stable for a day and water it normally.
this is my concolor after using this method:

good luck

 

[Eric Muehlbauer]

Hmmmmmmm..................concolor is a pretty easy plant to bloom. In fact, if someone could keep one alive for that many years its hard to believe that it wouldn't flower at least once. Like all brachy's, blooming them is less of a challenge than keeping them alive. Do the 2nd, it's hard to avoid the 1st. My guess is that it's mislabeled, and may be a hybrid. This would apply to the other plant as well- hybrids, even those with an easy reputation like Maudiae, do not always bloom. Much of the time this is blamed on aneuploidy- chromosomal abnormalities, basically. Whether that's always the fault, I don't know, but it makes a great excuse. However, just as genetic recombination between plants can result in a superior bloom, or a plant that easily blooms it's head off, it can also result in a plant either reluctant or incapable of blooming.

 

[NYEric]

Very interesting Ken, Welcome to the forum!

 

[SlipperFan]

Good catch, Eric!

Yes, welcome, Keny.