Paphiopedilum Orchid AKA Paph Orchid
The most common name for this orchid species is 'Lady's Slipper' or 'Slipper Orchid' which relates to the slipper shaped pouch of the labellum, but is also called 'Phaph Orchid' by commercial growers.
They are much sort after by collectors, whilst they don't have the spectacular color range of some of the epiphytic species, the stunning shape of the flower ensures its ongoing popularity.
To follow up on my previous article on this species I shall cover some of the more popular species giving a description and growing conditions.
It should be noted that making contact with the foliage as been known to irritate certain skin allergies.
I would suggest wearing thin rubber garden gloves when working with these plants.
All the following paphiopedilum orchids are evergreen terrestrials and relatively easy to grow in a greenhouse and hopefully will tempt you into searching them out through your suppliers.
P.
appletonianum This plant displays green flowers in spring which are around 6 cm (2.
5 inches) across and the petals are pink towards the outer portion, the slipper pouch is light brown in color.
The flowers grow singularly on a single tall stem.
The leaves are oval and mottled and around 10cm (4 inch) long.
Minimum temperature for this plant is 13 degrees C.
(55 degrees F) shade is required in summer.
This plant from some angles always reminds me of a glider plane coming into land.
P.
bellatulum There is hardly any stem with this plant but it does produce beautiful white flowers around 8cm (3 inch) across speckled liberally with deep maroon spots, the slipper pouch is also the same color and makes this quite a stunning orchid.
The flowers appear singularly in spring with oval marbled leaves around 8 cm (3 inch) long.
The minimum temperature for this plant is 18 degrees c (64 degrees F) and it will require shade in summer.
This is one of my favorite paph orchids.
P.
Buckhurst 'Mont Millais' This plant displays the usual flower of three petals, the two on either side are yellow and the main centre dorsal is white, the slipper pouch is also yellow and all a spotted red.
Flower dimensions are around 12 cm (5 inch) across and appear singularly in winter.
Leaves are oval 10 cm (4 inch) long and it will require shade in summer.
P.
callosum This flower has two green and purple petals, the centre dorsal petal is white with purple stripes, measures around 8 cm (3 inch) across and grows on tall stems in spring and summer.
Leaves are oval and mottled around 10 cm long.
(4 inch) Minimum temperatures are 13 degrees C (55 degrees F) needs shade in summer.
P.
Lyric 'Glendora' This plant blooms in winter and displays a single rounded flower 10 cm (4 inch) across with red and green petals, the centre dorsal is white with mottled red towards the centre, the slipper is reddish brown.
Leaves are oval around 15 cm (6 inches) long.
Require shade in summer.
They are much sort after by collectors, whilst they don't have the spectacular color range of some of the epiphytic species, the stunning shape of the flower ensures its ongoing popularity.
To follow up on my previous article on this species I shall cover some of the more popular species giving a description and growing conditions.
It should be noted that making contact with the foliage as been known to irritate certain skin allergies.
I would suggest wearing thin rubber garden gloves when working with these plants.
All the following paphiopedilum orchids are evergreen terrestrials and relatively easy to grow in a greenhouse and hopefully will tempt you into searching them out through your suppliers.
P.
appletonianum This plant displays green flowers in spring which are around 6 cm (2.
5 inches) across and the petals are pink towards the outer portion, the slipper pouch is light brown in color.
The flowers grow singularly on a single tall stem.
The leaves are oval and mottled and around 10cm (4 inch) long.
Minimum temperature for this plant is 13 degrees C.
(55 degrees F) shade is required in summer.
This plant from some angles always reminds me of a glider plane coming into land.
P.
bellatulum There is hardly any stem with this plant but it does produce beautiful white flowers around 8cm (3 inch) across speckled liberally with deep maroon spots, the slipper pouch is also the same color and makes this quite a stunning orchid.
The flowers appear singularly in spring with oval marbled leaves around 8 cm (3 inch) long.
The minimum temperature for this plant is 18 degrees c (64 degrees F) and it will require shade in summer.
This is one of my favorite paph orchids.
P.
Buckhurst 'Mont Millais' This plant displays the usual flower of three petals, the two on either side are yellow and the main centre dorsal is white, the slipper pouch is also yellow and all a spotted red.
Flower dimensions are around 12 cm (5 inch) across and appear singularly in winter.
Leaves are oval 10 cm (4 inch) long and it will require shade in summer.
P.
callosum This flower has two green and purple petals, the centre dorsal petal is white with purple stripes, measures around 8 cm (3 inch) across and grows on tall stems in spring and summer.
Leaves are oval and mottled around 10 cm long.
(4 inch) Minimum temperatures are 13 degrees C (55 degrees F) needs shade in summer.
P.
Lyric 'Glendora' This plant blooms in winter and displays a single rounded flower 10 cm (4 inch) across with red and green petals, the centre dorsal is white with mottled red towards the centre, the slipper is reddish brown.
Leaves are oval around 15 cm (6 inches) long.
Require shade in summer.
