Paphiopedilum Leeanum

[Rosim_in_BR]

This is a primary hybrid between Paph. spicerianum and Paph. insigne. It is a very hardy plant. Honestly, I've never seen anything like that with Paphios. And because it is hardy, people here plant it everywhere. It seems to me that it grows wherever you plant it. If you blink, it end up growing even on the asphaltic road floor !!! It is so common that orchid collectors don’t give a dime for it.
I once gave a single fan to my mom recommending that she planted it using tree fern fiber. She forgot about the tree fern fiber and planted it in a large pot filled with pure earth. A few years later I asked her about the lady slipper orchid I had given her and she said: 'Oh, it's flowering now, go see it in the backyard'. I couldn't believe in what I saw! Twenty-six floral stems, half of them with two flowers and two of them with three - believe it or not!! - three perfectly formed flowers! I had the same plant (hers was a piece of mine) grown the standard way and never, never got more than a moderate number of flowers and always one per stem!
In the photos are two different clones, the one at right being very superior than the other.

[Dorothy]

Awesome
and a great story to boot!

[Chubidubi]

AMAZING.
We don't have these in the wild here in PR. You are so lucky.

[DebsC]

Sometimes mother's DO know best!!!

Great flower and thanks for sharing that story.

[tuvoc]

Great story, Mauro. I gave my mother a similar paph years ago. She lived in northern Utah, kept it in a southern window, bright, hot, and dry, and it bloomed and bloomed. When she died about 12 years ago, I inherited it back. I did all the 'right' things for it, and it has bloomed once since. Mothers must have someting us guys just don't get.

Kim

[Rosim_in_BR]

Originally Posted by tuvoc

Great story, Mauro. I gave my mother a similar paph years ago. She lived in northern Utah, kept it in a southern window, bright, hot, and dry, and it bloomed and bloomed. When she died about 12 years ago, I inherited it back. I did all the 'right' things for it, and it has bloomed once since. Mothers must have someting us guys just don't get.

Kim

Oh, yes, Kim, mothers know better... because they know in their hearts, I believe!

[Ross]

Wonderful plant and flowers! Great story also.

[charmbutterfly]

SO maybe i shouldn't pamper mine either! Just throw it in some dirt lol Great story and beautiful flowers!!

[snow]

so garden soil is the answer.
i have some insigne,s to practice on.

[albacornelia]

I have bought today a Paphiopedilum Leeanum for 5 euros...couldn't resist!!!!
Good to hear that it's easy to keep, I have been having some hard disappointments with Phalenopsis and was afraid I'd terminate this little guy too...