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Been watching this one since December but it finally opened (fully open on the 2nd, started to open a few days before that).
Paphiopedilum NOID
This was the first orchid I personally re-flowered. It skipped a year after a (probably poorly timed) re-potting but is stronger now than ever with a larger flower than normal. These flowers last a long time so by the time they finish hopefully we'll be a lot closer to spring. I know a little bit more about what these guys need so it should only get better in the future. I may never see more than one flower on this plant, regardless of age - that's driven more by genetics then culture. Best I can hope for is just the same thing but better.
As far as Paphs go this is fairly tame. The stripes are subtle and the spots are few, and I think all on the top edge of the two side petals, and blend in well with the dark colour of the flower. Love the colour as well, only thing that would improve it would be just a little bit more contrast in the stripes on the dorsal sepal (and of course a more symmetrical flower but that's not too important to me).
Two years ago it was in bud in April and flowering in June. I prefer the winter flowering I think, there's more than enough going on in June but I like my Orchids to do their stuff in winter.
It may be tame but I really love the colour. Do you have a spot set up to take photos?
ReplyDeleteNot a permanent one but I do have a large piece of black fabric I can hook up behind a plant or under and then up behind if i need to show the whole thing for some reason (My parents have an old projector screen I can set up to hold this if I have something really tall I want to shoot - I used this when I was shooting my Syngonium).
ReplyDeleteI shoot with a Nikon D40 with SB-400 flash and usually just the 18-55mm VR lens that usually comes bundled with the camera. I usually have the flash at 90 degrees up bounced back at the subject for more natural looking lighting and softer shadows. In the picture above I think I was holding my camera in a way that the flash came from the right to fully light up the hood. I'd like to pick up a few clip on desk lights for even more lighting control but can manage with my current setup even though it does limit what I'm able to do with lighting more than I'd like.
I can basically set up for pictures anywhere but usually just use the dining room table as there's nowhere else that's really big enough or doesn't already have plants on it.