Are Paph. sanderianum s particularly difficult to grow?

[Jeff214]

Now that I've kept a few Paphs and Phrags alive for nearly a year... I'd like (perhaps foolishly) to try a Paph. sanderianum (or a hybrid with long petals). Are Paph. sanderianums tricky to grow compared to other species or require special care?

Since these are calcicolous, should they be potted in a medium that contains dolomitic limestone?

Paphiopedilum sanderianum

Thanks!

[billc]

An excellent long petaled Sandi hybrid is Michael Koopowitz. Fairly easy to grow and absolutely stunning when in bloom.
No experience with Sanderianum species but from what I remember they are rather slow growing and are lower light than most strap leaf paphs.

Bill

[Jeff214]

Thanks for the suggestion - I really like the overall shape of Michael Koopowitz. The better looking ones online, at least, look more like a Paph. philippinense with sanderianum markings and an extra long petal!

[Roberta]

I have one that I got as a fairly small plant (big ones are really expensive) about 7 years ago. It seems to be growing fine, leaves are up to 8 inches each - on one fan but it likely needs 2 or 3 more of them to actually bloom. I am not at all certain that I'll live long enough. Like Paph rothschilldianum, best to acquire if you are under 35 years old...

[Jeff214]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I have one that I got as a fairly small plant (big ones are really expensive) about 7 years ago. It seems to be growing fine, leaves are up to 8 inches each - on one fan but it likely needs 2 or 3 more of them to actually bloom. I am not at all certain that I'll live long enough. Like Paph rothschilldianum, best to acquire if you are under 35 years old...

Lucky (?) me, I'm still a tad...... younger than 35. Guess I'm still young in the orchid world, haha. I read that these were slow growers, but wow. 7 years and still NBS. Maybe the hybrids (Michael Koopowitz) will be more vigorous.

And holy moly, sanderianum and rothchildianums can get expensive. I've never seen one in person and I've been debating if the larger sizes are worth buying. I guess the extra $50+ for a larger plant is worth a decade of my life. Maybe...

Well, I do hope you'll get to see your sanderianum flower one of these days. I have found that threatening orchids to compost have helped with blooming. maybe.

[Roberta]

If you can find a big one for $50, grab it (Best odds, find an elderly society member who is downsizing/liquidating)... Mine was a large seedling when I got it... for $35. It has excellent parentage... but...

[SaraJean]

Originally Posted by Jeff214

I read that these were slow growers, but wow. 7 years and still NBS.

From what I’ve heard, that seems to be the main reason that they could be considered more “difficult”. If you screw something up, like rot the roots or something, it doesn’t grow fast enough to compensate. There’s just not a lot of room for error. The culture doesn’t seem to difficult though. I bought a young one (and a few other Paphs)in 2018 from Orchid Inn with zero experience with Paphiopedilums and it’s still alive. I’ve been keeping it a little shadier than my other multis and warm year round. It hasn’t been fussy, and seems to be ok with my temps, it’s just slooooooooow. I need to measure it and see how long the leaves are but it will probably be a good 3-5 years till it blooms... if I’m lucky. So yeah, if you find or can afford a larger one with two or three fans, jump on it

[My Green Pets]

I second the suggestion of Michael Koopowitz. Check out the Orchid Inn, they have a whole section of sandarianum hybrids that will grow much faster and be more forgiving than the species.
Paphiopedilum - Hybrids - Multifloral - Page 1 - Orchid Inn Ltd.

[Jeff214]

Thanks for the advise. I'm leaning towards Michael Koopowitz too. I've gotten a couple of Paphs and Phrags from the Orchid Inn and they have all been fantastic plants. Now when is their sale...?

Paph parishii has taken 6 months to grow a 1/2 of a new leaf and philippense has taken 3 months for the new growth to swell a little bit. Sounds like sanderianum is even slower!

[Fairorchids]

Actually, most of the multiflorals should be grown brighter than other Paphs. I grow Paphs with 55-60% shade cloth, and Catts/multifloral Paphs with 35-40% shade cloth.

Once you see a spike forming, move the plant into the deeper shade of the regular Paphs (otherwise the spike will be too short).