phals out! paphs in!

[hanzy08]

I was never interested in paphiopedilums. I see them online and in conservatories and once in grocery shops and flower shops but never bought them. I guess I was just never a fan of single-flowered orchids and the big and numerous flowers always grabbed my attention until I saw a video in youtube of this paph venustum that I thought looked out of this world! so I started reading more about them and learned about their interesting history and the fact that they can only be propagated through seeds therefore mass producing a specific plant through cloning is currently impossible. So I am thinking of giving away some phals since a lot of them are in flower now to make space for two or more paphs depending on how well it does in my environment. I'm going to start with venustum and henryanum and maybe micranthum. I love my phals and they are a beautiful centerpiece but I know that they are easy to find whenever I miss them.

[NYCorchidman]

Paph bugs got you!

If you are confident with phals, which I think you are, you should be fine with paphs.

The thee species you mentioned are very popular and easy to cultivate.

I hope you find some nice ones and have fun growing and flowering them.

[Paul]

Never been a big paph or phrag fan myself. Just as well as I've killed any that were in my care. Once in a while I see one I like enough to consider trying, but I always see other orchids I like even more.

Tastes do change over time. I wasn't into species when I first got into the hobby. Now I am more likely to look at species than I am hybrids. If paphs have captured you eye then I'd say, by all means, unload a couple of your more common run of the mill phals and give the paphs a try.

[tucker85]

I saw Paph venustum at the Ft. Lauderdale Orchid Show. I thought it was wonderful and bought one, even though I don't grow paphs.. I really like the ones with some orange on the pouch but mine turned out to be a green color. I'm going to look for another one in the darker color.

[hanzy08]

Originally Posted by tucker85

I saw Paph venustum at the Ft. Lauderdale Orchid Show. I thought it was wonderful and bought one, even though I don't grow paphs.. I really like the ones with some orange on the pouch but mine turned out to be a green color. I'm going to look for another one in the darker color.

Yes even though they are of the same species, colors still vary being of seedling population that's why when it comes to paphs i think it's better to buy one in flower to make sure you are getting exactly what you want. Unless it's not a big deal for you. I like the orange pouch too and the one i ordered is in bud so we'll see! I'm kinda excited!

[wintergirl]

That's good to know about the colors. I'm not a big paph fan... but I do admit some of those pink ones look quite tempting.

[hanzy08]

Originally Posted by wintergirl

That's good to know about the colors. I'm not a big paph fan... but I do admit some of those pink ones look quite tempting.

I think they really are worth a try!

[cmu]

The venustums that say one the tag 'var. measuresianum' or something like that are the green ones. Sometimes they might say venustum album.

I used to be all species lots of types but last year sepos show I saw a yellow miltoniopsis hybrid that was fragrant and bought it. Later that spring saw a vigorous habenaria hybrid, and very recently have seen lots of the smaller phrag hybrids so have bought a bunch of them

[Optimist]

I love anything I can make grow! I started having good luck with phals only when I stopped buying rescue plants.

[hanzy08]

Originally Posted by Optimist

I love anything I can make grow! I started having good luck with phals only when I stopped buying rescue plants.

I noticed too that phals take a while to recover compared to oncidiums and cattleyas. I guess because they are monopodial. People give me their phals after they flower and they just sit there for a long time cause most of the time they are stressed or the roots are rotted or they are dehydrated so they are set back for a long time.