Paph. bellatulum - Orchid Board

ronaldhanko · #1 04-10-2009, 01:07 PM

I don't do very well with the brachypetalums. This one has struggled since blooming, but I thought I'd share the flowers anyway:

Paphiopedilum bellatulum on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

billc · #2 04-10-2009, 01:51 PM

I think it looks pretty good. I really like the contrast between the dark spots and the pure white. Do you think it will open more? Or is that the struggle?

Bill

ronaldhanko · #3 04-10-2009, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billc

I think it looks pretty good. I really like the contrast between the dark spots and the pure white. Do you think it will open more? Or is that the struggle?

Bill

This is as much as the flowers open - the struggle is to grow the plants well. They're very susceptible to rot and need good medium or the roots don't do well.

WhiteRabbit · #4 04-10-2009, 03:37 PM

WOW!
stunning!

awesome job growing this one!
I admire your photography skills very much as well!

phearamedusa · #5 04-10-2009, 03:51 PM

I can only wish that the ones I've had from this Genus/tribe "struggled" this hard. Mine, go to the orchid place in the sky very quickly after coming into my ...um... care. I look, enjoy, even drool all over these, but I no longer torture them or myself by purchasing.
Very nice flowers and photo. I hope it continues to struggle for you.

ronaldhanko · #6 04-10-2009, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phearamedusa

I can only wish that the ones I've had from this Genus/tribe "struggled" this hard. Mine, go to the orchid place in the sky very quickly after coming into my ...um... care. I look, enjoy, even drool all over these, but I no longer torture them or myself by purchasing.
Very nice flowers and photo. I hope it continues to struggle for you.

Thanks for the humor, but it is a real occasion when one of these blooms for me and then grows well.

phearamedusa · #7 04-10-2009, 06:35 PM

Ron,

We all need some humor in our lives. I didn't mean to imply that it wasn't an accomplishment to grow these orchids. In fact, I am green with envy. I've tried with these orchids, within a month they are

. During that time I fuss over them, and nothing helps. So no more of these for me. I wish you only the best with it. I hope that all the OB members have a good Easter/Passover weekend.
Melanie

kiki-do · #8 04-10-2009, 06:41 PM

Oh that is so great to see someone make these bloom. I had no idea how hard they were to grow, but this one is on my list to get next. I hope. Ron, what are you doing right?

Can you share tips?

ronaldhanko · #9 04-11-2009, 01:41 AM

They may not be hard for everyone, but I have never found them easy. I grow them in a bark mix, but have to change it frequently or it seems to go sour and stop root growth. Changing the medium however, seems to set the plants back and they sulk for a while. One also has to be very careful not to get water in the crown of the plant or they very quickly rot.

playtime8978 · #10 04-11-2009, 02:07 AM

I have admired these for a while and yours is stunning thank you for the photos, but I think I will stick to admiring yours rather than buying one if they are hard to grow, I can kill a phal so I would send one of these to its death I am sure.