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PAPHIOPEDILUM
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Paphiopedilums, or
"paphios" are among the least demanding orchids in their cultural requirements. They do
well indoors in homes or greenhouses, and outdoors in areas that do not freeze.
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The main flowering season for paphiopedilum is December through March, however, hybridizers have
recently created many varieties which flower in the summer. There are other varieties which flower two or three times a year.
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1. Light and Temperature Requirements
There are warm growing paphios and cool growing paphios. Paphios with solid green leaves are the so-called
cool growing. Those with mottled leaves come from the more tropical areas and are better suited to warmer
growing conditions. These paphios, more or less, are the summer flowering or year round blooming types. Within the
last few years, however, many growers have been very successful in growing all types of paphios in warmer areas.
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Because paphios do not require high light intensity, they are ideal for that sunny window, fern garden, or any
other filtered sunlight location. Paphios do very well in an atrium where filtered sun shines in only a couple of hours
a day, with diffused indirect sunlight the rest of the time. They like humidity — gravel-filled trays with a little
water in them will provide some humidity as the water evaporates from the surface of the stones.
Never allow the pot to stand in water as this would keep the plants soggy and could cause root rot.
If you have a greenhouse your conditions may be ideal. If the greenhouse contains various types of orchids,
grow the Paphiopedilums in the shadiest, coolest part of the greenhouse. Maintain an optimum temperature of 60½F
at night and 70-85½F during the day. To induce them to flower early in the season (around Christmas), they may
be given lower night temperatures in March and April.
If you live in the coastal zone of Southern California from San Diego to Santa Maria, paphios will grow to
perfection outdoors because the air is always cool and humid, much to their liking. Bring them indoors if the temperatures
ever reach freezing.
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2. Soil and Fertilizers
Paphios are semi-terrestrial. Grow in a standard cymbidium mix and keep on the moist side, watering about
twice a week in the hot summer months and once a week the rest of the year. This is necessary because paphios
cannot store water and should not be allowed to dry out. The potting mix should be thoroughly saturated when watered.
Water should not be allowed to stand in the leaf axils (center of the plant) overnight.
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Feed with Norman's Orchid Food according to the directions on the label to encourage growth and repeat blooming.
Flush water through pot thoroughly between fertilizer feeds to help leach out accumulated salts.
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3. Repotting and Dividing
Paphios can be repotted every year. However, if a plant is doing well and the mix looks firm, it can go a second year.
Divide only when necessary — don't be too eager to divide plants. To get the largest and best quality flowers,
we recommend letting your plants grow to good specimen size. They should have at least 8 growths before dividing.
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Remove the plant from the pot and discard all of the old mix. If not dividing, return the plant to the same pot
after the pot has been cleaned. To divide, grasp the plant firmly and pull apart. Pack the mix carefully, but firmly,
around the roots. Be sure the mix comes about 1" around the base of the plant so that the new roots that will develop
will go directly into the soil. After repotting, water the plant immediately and resume normal care.
8/98.
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