Paph. kolopakingii - to get?

[Kelo]

Paph. kolopakingii... do I get one or do I not? I have 24 hours to make my mind up...

[littlefrog]

It isn't my favorite multifloral species. Too big, and the flowers aren't all that great. Lots of flowers though. I'm not a big fan of sanderianum either, so what do I know.

I could easily grow only rothschildianum and the glanduliferum complex and be happy with my multifloral endeavours.

[glengary54]

Kelo - unless you have tons of space don't even think about kolopakingii, mine when I finally gave it away had a leaf span of almost 8 feet, it took up way too much bench space for me to justify keeping it.

[Kelo]

OK, that's my mind made up. I didn't realise it could grow up to eight feet - far too big.

Thank you!

[RJSquirrel]

heh so few times we see pictures of the plants themselves. We see the blooms and have no idea they are attached to a 5 ft wide behemoth

[Kelo]

Yes, I wouldn't mind seeing an adult plant. How long do they continue to grow?

[RJSquirrel]

how long? well as far as I can tell the older the plant the larger the new growths become. So if you can keep it alive... indefinitely is how long.

There are divisions of plants being sold now, that were hybridized or collected many many years ago. So technically, a division is still the original growth. 100 years?.. I have read of orchid plants themselves still being alive well over 50 years after being collected and contained.

Orchids are survivors.

I have 1 kola I bought from 1st Rays and its now over 30"s /76 cm's across the top..single growth and not a bloom in site. One active leaf been popping out for like 3 months.These large multi floral paphs need very high light and a good cool temp drop in the culture to get them blooming.

Paphiopedilum kolopakingii
Leaves: 8-10, 20-80 cm long, 5-12 cm wide, stand sub-erect, dark green
Inflorescence: 5-19 flowered, 40-100 cm long, green, glabrous
Bloom: 8-17 cm wide
its one of the largest paphs thats ever been found or grown to date

[Kelo]

I had a feeling they would live to a ripe old age and that they would continue to get bigger and bigger. I think I'll rule the large ones out - but how do you know which ones are huge and which ones ain't? :-/

[glengary54]

Kelo - if you like the multifloral strap leafed Paphs, paph philippinense is a really great species that stays small.

[Kelo]

Thank you. I'll have a look for one. I suppose the only way you know how big a plant grows is to ask.

I forgot - I have one on order from Sam Tsui lol.