It should truly produce a hormonal signal that "flowering energy and resources are no longer needed", and should start it on the path of producing a new growth while the capsule takes care of itself.
Yes, I agree. That's how it is supposed to work with a plant like a Phrag. However, "should" is the key word here. If the plant only has energy reserves to either bloom and carry a capsule, or, produce a new growth, allowing it to bloom is sealing it's fate. That's the risk one takes when pollinating any first bloom seedling. Of course, we are talking about stunted, weak, or juvenile plants here, not normal, healthy,
mature plants. This entire debate is based on the assumption that the plant in question is quite young and therefore, possibly not energetic enough to do a good job of both blooming/producing seeds AND putting on new growths.
Personally, in the case of a specific plant that is particularly valuable, of high sentimental value, or important to me in some other way, I'd never allow it to bloom; or set seeds unless it was fully mature and in the peak of health. There is no reason to believe that his kovachii is not in the peak of good health; but, I do get the feeling that it is young and not yet up to it's full potential, as many Paphs and Phrags are not on their first bloom. That is because they are young and therefore, small, resulting in them not being up to the task (energywise), of doing their very best. In that case, I would not want to further stress such a plant by causing it to carry a capsule. Carrying the capsule could or should (whichever you prefer), as Rick suggests, send the signal to begin a new growth. But, if the energy reserves are low, that signal could be misinterpreted as a signal to put EVERYTHING into the capsule at the expense of it's own life.
