Thursday, January 13, 2011

Paphiopedilums

We bought some Paphiopedilums at Exotic Plant Company. Much like the Zygopetalum, they didn't have too much information beyond their Genus name. I've written to them asking if they might have additional details on these three plants, fingers crossed! (Edit: they did, have added names).

The more fancy looking of the two paphs looks like this, and was originally grown by PP Orchideeën in the Netherlands:

Paphiopedilum (Bagley x insigne)


The other one is showy in a rather elegant, understated way, with mottled green leaves and flowers striped with green:

Paphiopedilum Onyx




Note the stripy leaves.
Paphiopedilum are classed as "semi-terrestrial" orchids; their potting mixes are generally a little finer and more water-retentive than those for true epiphytes. They generally grow quite low down in forests, often in leaf litter, in fairly shaded habitats, so they prefer quite low light as a general rule. Apparently they're generally quite happy as houseplants, preferring similar temperatures to us!

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