Paphiopedilum orchid: the best varieties, tips for growing in an apartment

HomeOrchidsPaphiopedilum orchid: the best varieties, tips for growing in an apartment

The orchid is a plant loved by many flower growers, because it is rarely possible to compare with any other flower with its beauty. It’s all about the inflorescences of an unusual shape and their exotic color. One of the most spectacular representatives of the Orchid family is Paphiopedilum ( Paphiopedilum ) – a perennial herbaceous long-flowering plant with a bizarre bud shape that resembles a woman’s shoe. For this feature, this culture bears the second name “Venus slipper”.

Description

Paphiopedilum is an orchid that, under natural conditions, settles under the spreading crowns of large trees and in leaf humus. It has a straight stem up to 50 cm long. Leaf plates are soft, fleshy, belt-like or broadly lanceolate, elongated, up to 50 cm long, collected in a rosette. The color of the foliage depends on the variety. In some varieties, it is monophonic, rich green, in others it has a dark pattern on the surface.

When describing paphiopedilum, it should be noted that the flowers of the plant are solitary, less often collected in inflorescences of 20-30 pieces. Consists of upper and lower tiers. The upper tier is distinguished by wide petals of bright colors, has the shape of a visor.

The sizes and colors of the buds are varied. Pink, cream, yellow, white tones prevail. On the petals, in most cases, there is an original ornament of dots, spots and stripes.

The root system of this culture is powerful, well developed, consists of many strong long roots.

Kinds

The most popular types of paphiopedilum flower with beautiful buds of unusual colors are described below.

Apricot lady’s slipper ( Paphiopedilum armeniacum ). A plant 40 – 50 cm high with a straight thick stem that ends in a lush leaf rosette. The leaves are broadly lanceolate, with a dark green marble ornament on the surface and with numerous burgundy dots on the underside. The length of the leaf plates is 15 – 20 cm. The flowers are lemon yellow in color, with petals wavy along the edge and a rounded lip. The diameter of the bud is 10 – 12 cm.

Appleton’s lady’s slipper ( Paphiopedilum appletonianum ). Reaches 30 – 40 cm in height. The leaves are belt-shaped, elongated, dark green, sometimes with a marble pattern on the surface. Flowers with a diameter of 10 cm, purple hue with green specks on all petals.

Venus slipper bearded ( Paphiopedilum barbatum ). Variety with long, deep green narrow-lanceolate leaves with a marbled pattern at the top. The length of the leaf plates reaches 20 cm. The petals are lilac in color with a light green central part. The lip is large, convex.

Venus slipper rough-haired ( Paphiopedilum villosum ). A tall variety with peduncles 30 cm long. The flowers are large, up to 15 cm in diameter. The upper petal combines green and brown color, has a thin white border around the edge. The rest of the petals are light brown. The lip may have a red tint and thin dark streaks. Flowering begins in autumn, lasts until spring.

Lady’s slipper wonderful ( Paphiopedilum insigne ). One of the most beautiful types of Paphiopedilum. It has long narrow deep green leaves. Flowers with brown lateral petals, central petal with a yellow central part, on which many brown specks are applied. A white border runs along the edges of the petals. Flowering begins in early autumn, lasts until the last days of winter.

Lawrence’s lady’s slipper ( Paphiopedilum lawrenceanum ). It has an unpretentious character, therefore it is found in apartments more often than other types of paphiopedilum. Grows up to 40 cm in height. The leaves are belt-shaped, up to 15 cm long, with dark stains on the surface. The upper petal of the flower is large, pointed, white, with longitudinal stripes of burgundy-green color. The lateral petals are narrow, greenish-brown, with black dots along the edges. The lip is convex, red, with a green base.

The most hairy lady’s slipper ( Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum ). It has narrow long fleshy leaves collected in a rosette. The buds are large, fleecy, with brown petals, along the edge of which there is a green border. The side petals are lilac, with wavy edges. The lip is convex, pale yellow. The surface of the petals and lips is dotted with small burgundy dots. Flowering begins in February.

Lady’s slipper lovely ( Paphiopedilum venustum ). Orchid 40 – 60 cm high. The leaves are elongated, elliptical, about 5 cm wide, gray-green with a marble pattern on the top. Peduncle reaches 25 cm in length. Flowers can have a wide variety of colors, but varieties with green and yellow petals are most common. A pattern of dark stripes and dots is applied to their surface. The lip is burgundy, with many stripes randomly scattered over it.

Varieties

Among the large number of varieties of paphiopedilum or venus slipper, those that have an unpretentious character and immunity to diseases and pests are the most successful among flower growers. Each variety is beautiful and unique in its own way.

“Vietnamese” – distinguished by spectacular buds of a creamy pink hue. Has aerial roots. The variety is unpretentious, easy to care for.

“Bellatulum” – a variety with low stems, in the upper part of which single flowers of white or cream color are formed. The entire surface of the petals is strewn with burgundy dots.

“Delophyllum” is a low-growing variety with lanceolate foliage up to 10 cm long. There is a light pattern of numerous spots on the foliage. No more than two buds with a large convex lip are formed on one plant. The color of the petals is white, cream, pale yellow.

“Femma” – one of the most beautiful orchids with dark green foliage, the surface of which is dotted with light strokes. The upper petal is white, with green longitudinal stripes. Side petals and lip light green color.

“Conclore” is a plant with long, belt-shaped, variegated leaves. The flowers are cream, with purple dots on the surface. This orchid produces two to four flowers per season.

“Maudi” – differs by broadly lanceolate dark green leaves with rare light green stripes in the upper part. On a straight stem, one bud is formed with an upper white petal and green side petals. The lip is convex, lilac.

‘Black Jack’ is an expressive cultivar with broadly lanceolate dark green foliage and burgundy buds. The plant looks very impressive, but has a pretentious character. Only experienced flower growers can grow it.

Care

Paphiopedilum is a whimsical orchid , so those who decide to breed it need to be patient and study the features of this amazingly beautiful flower with an exotic appearance.

  • Lighting. This culture is photophilous, develops well and shows maximum attractiveness in bright diffused light. Variegated varieties should grow on window sills facing south, west and east, because with a lack of light they lose their decorative effect. Varieties with solid foliage can grow on the north side of the room. In winter, the lady’s slipper should be additionally illuminated with phytolamps so that the plant is under light for 12 hours a day.
  • Air temperature. Comfortable air temperature for a venus slipper is 19 – 25 degrees. For successful development and flowering, temperature differences are necessary at night and during the day with a difference of 2 – 4 degrees.
  • Watering. Water the plant sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out by one third. During the growing season, the frequency of water procedures must be increased. During flowering and in the cold season, when the orchid is at rest, watering is reduced. Drought has a beneficial effect on the formation of buds.

Experienced flower growers use the technique of immersing the pot in a bucket of water. A container with a plant is placed in water, covering the soil with a net or cellophane. For watering paphiopedilum, settled or filtered water at room temperature is suitable.

  • Air humidity. In normal times, an orchid should grow at moderate humidity in the range of 40 – 50%. In hot weather, humidity should be increased to 70%. To do this, you need to spray the flower daily, or put a humidifier near it.
  • The soil. To grow a venus slipper, a special substrate for orchids is used. You can prepare the soil for paphiopedilum yourself from crushed coniferous bark, sphagnum, charcoal, a small amount of lime. Take the components in the ratio 5:1:1:0.5. At the bottom of the pot, you should first lay a drainage layer 2 cm thick using expanded clay. It is recommended to plant an orchid in a plastic transparent pot. Ceramic containers for this flower are not suitable due to the characteristics of the root system, which can catch on a rough surface. This, in turn, will complicate the transplant.
  • Topdressing. When caring for paphiopedilum at home, the flower is fed with mineral compounds containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium. The fertilizer is pre-diluted in water at the dosage indicated in the instructions. This work is carried out 2 times a month with an interval of 2 weeks. During the dormant period there is no need for fertilizers. You can not fertilize immediately after a flower transplant, at least 20 days must pass. After this time, a small amount of the mineral complex is added to the substrate.
  • transfer. Young plants are transplanted annually, as their root system develops very quickly and eventually ceases to fit in a pot. This work is carried out in the spring months. Copies that have reached the age of three are transplanted every 3 years. Transplantation is carried out by the method of transshipment.

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