New Paphiopedilum, with druryi? Confused about culture.

[Blueszz]

Yesterday I stumbled upon this slipper:


(front view)


(a view *in* the lip)

The flower is about 13 x 11 cm (5 x 4.3 inch) and the leaves are green and fairly up right. 2 Mature growths with spike and a third new growth.

The seller told me it's influenced by Paphiopedilum druryi and that it's an American Paphiopedilum (hybrid).

I'm new to slippers, I had one (Maudiae type) until yesterday. Any advise on how growing this one?

What I've found online: more light than Maudiae type slippers, can take lower temps? Needs a temperature drop in spring (???) when it has new growths to get a spike on this growth next winter? Needs more light during winter than during summer? I'm confused how to culture this one. Can you help me please? :-)

[camille1585]

I don't grow any slippers (too chicken to try them, I'm afraid of killing them!)
I looked up Paph druryi on Orchidwiz, and I found some of the same info you did. Light is brightest in the winter in their natural habitat, and in cultivation light should be as bright as possible, short of burning the leaves. Be careful at midday, light should be more diffused. Apparently they need 2500-3500 fc, which is freakin bright!
New growths may take up to three years to be mature enough to produce blooms.
I found nothing about temp drops to initiate blooms. In their native habititat, the temperature stays pretty much constant all year round the winter being only a few degrees cooler. The druryi species needs fairly warm temps. 24-25°C in summer days, 28-29°C in spring days, nights at 14-17°C during that period. In the winter it's around 22-26°C during the day, and 12-13°C at night.

Of course, yours might need different conditions, since you don't know how much druryi influence there is, nor what the other growing conditions of the other plants in its parentage are. Yours might not need as much light or heat, you'll have to experiment.

[Lagoon]

I don't give my paph druryi any special conditions with tempts. It sits under (4)-4 foot flourescent tubes. Its parked about 8 inches from these tubes.

(IMHO) Just treat it like any other paphs, good lighting and keep it reasonable moist - allow some drying out time. Water when damp.

Learn more here ....

Paphiopedilum druryi

[Blueszz]

Thanks Camille and Gloria,
So far I own one mottled leafed and one green leafed (this one) Paph. I read online that the green leafed ones can take slight cooler temps and more light than de mottled leafed ones. I also read that both types often do well when cultured under the same conditions. I think I'm going to take this as a starting point for the "big head" and keep in mind that it probably can take more light than the other I have.

@ Gloria: Do you make sure they get a temperature drop for two months during Autumn, as low as 57F? Is that necessary to get them spiking again?

@ Camille, my Maudiae type was under Phalaenopsis conditions last winter (with the added light) and did well so far. If you can grow Phal's I think you can grow mottled leaved Paphs ;-) although I still have to find out how to reflower it

Nicole

[BikerDoc5968]

I wonder if this is a hybrid of Paph druryi x exul

Paphiopedilum druryi

Paph exul - The Slipper Orchid Forum - The First Online Slipper Orchid Discussion Forum

[Tindomul]

Moving this thread to the proper forum.

[Phantasm]

This is a typical complex paph hybrid with a predominance of Paph insigne, spicerianum and villosum and probably several other species. Perhaps P. druryi is in there also......

Treat as any normal complex cool growing paph with cool-intermediate culture, relatively low light- similar to phals and repot every year or two.

[Lagoon]

Nicole, It doesn't go below 68. Its in low bud right now.

[Blueszz]

Thank you everyone!
I'll check out the species you mentioned Gloria... and Phantasm, thanks for your help too! Now I have some homework, I want to learn more about the species you mentioned.
Paph's are a whole new world to me, I got the message; there is still a lot to learn for me!

I really appreciate your help and advise! Thank you!

Nicole

[Phantasm]

My cool growing complex hybrids get down to 50F or so during the winter preferably 55F. Keep them below 80F during the summer if you can. They are pretty tolerant as long as they don't get hot and bright light.