Paphiopedilum sukhakulii thermal requirements

[Feloni]

Dear orchid lovers,

it took me years but I’ve finally fallen in love with Paphs and their extravagant elegance. I have paph primulum which is doing just fine. I’m currently eyeing a Paphiopedilum sukhakulii, but apparently it’s a thermophilic plant. Winter temps can drop to around the high 50s on my northern facing windows here. What is your experience? Would that kill it? Any other care recommendations? Thx a lot!

Best

Feloni

[tmoney]

Originally Posted by Feloni

Dear orchid lovers,

it took me years but I’ve finally fallen in love with Paphs and their extravagant elegance. I have paph primulum which is doing just fine. I’m currently eyeing a Paphiopedilum sukhakulii, but apparently it’s a thermophilic plant. Winter temps can drop to around the high 50s on my northern facing windows here. What is your experience? Would that kill it? Any other care recommendations? Thx a lot!

Best

Feloni

nah, just get it and maybe move it away from the window a tad in the winter. can i ask which vendor you are eyeing it from?!

[Feloni]

Wichmann! So you think its hardy enough to deal with 14-16 degrees Celsius? Do you yourself have one?

[Paphluvr]

I find Paph. sukhakulii to be one of the easiest Paphs. to grow and flower. My whole collection is subject to winter nighttime temperatures of 58 degrees F (14.5 degrees C) with daytime temperature around 70 F (21 C) and it is currently in bloom. My only concern would be with how much light it's going to get at a northfacing window. How large is the window and are there any external obstuctions (trees, other nearby buildings, etc.)?

[Feloni]

My Coelygone Cristata, Phalaenopsis Liodoro and Paphiopedilum Pinocchio are doing fine there. There is a building across the yard which reflects quite a bit of sunshine. Travaldo, my source of information, says it really needs very little light, so….

---------- Post added at 10:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:53 AM ----------

Window is large, 3 by 8 feet

[tmoney]

Originally Posted by Feloni

Wichmann! So you think its hardy enough to deal with 14-16 degrees Celsius? Do you yourself have one?

howdy! we do no have a sukhi, however we have several related paths and many that read the same conditions online and those plants do just fine here. mha, don't trust 100% those temp guides you read online. usually they are just guides and often the plants are much more adaptable. other times some of those temp ranges are just plain confusing. hopefully the plant isn't too expensive so you aren't taking a huge risk, but otherwise try one for yourself before you put it on the can't grow list

and wichmann plants are excellent as you probably know! grossraschener has been our new go to for paphs lately tho... good luck!

[Feloni]

The Sukha does only ever have one bloom per inflorescence, right?

[Jmoney]

Originally Posted by Feloni

The Sukha does only ever have one bloom per inflorescence, right?

generally yes.