Paphiopedilum helenae (two plants)

[RosieC]

Sooo cute

[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by billc

Very nice, Ramon. They seem to like S/H. They look well grown. Darn CITES, they would be popular in the states if we could get them. Are they supposed to yellow as the bloom ages?

Bill

Yes Bill, I have these two plants growing in S/H and they are doing very well. I also have another one in bark substrat for comparison. This is also doing very well too, but has not yet bloomed (currently in buds!)

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Currently, I am wondering, whether all those great orange Paph helenae are just the side effect of a badly used Flash..

Even though Paph helenae # 2 has become yellower with time, it is actually still green, and not much different as in the previous pictures. However, while photographing something else, I realized that under flash it looks quite yellow/orange. See yourself:



Paph. helenae # 1 has not experimented any changes. Neither colours nor shape. But under Flash, it also looks a bit yellower:



And as an extra candy today... Paph herrmannii is getting close to the big day (without flash, the pouch is not so purple yet!)

[whygreenberg]

I do so wish we'd get some helenae's or helenae hybrids here in the states...They are just too awesome.

Interesting about your photo observations Ramón. All the photos I've seen definitely show them as being in the yellow to mahogany realm.

[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by whygreenberg

I do so wish we'd get some helenae's or helenae hybrids here in the states...They are just too awesome.

Interesting about your photo observations Ramón. All the photos I've seen definitely show them as being in the yellow to mahogany realm.

Yvan, this species is indeed "normally" yellow/orange... I have seen several plants and they are always a lot more yellow than these two plants in my collection. As mentioned before, this are the first Paph. helenae I have seen with such coloration...

The following plant is the first Paph helenae I've seen life. And it was exactly colored as in the pictures:

[quiltergal]

The shape of the dorsal looks quite different in the last pictures from your plants Ramon. Maybe these flowers take a long time to mature into their final shape and coloration??

[Leisurely]

Terri, I think you hit on something. Ramon's plants have just opened the flowers and give them time to mature, I'll bet they will improve in color. Time will tell. Keep us posted Ramon.

[betoguerrero]

Beautifull .... just beautifull.... CONGRATS RAMON you have two beautifull plants....

[orchideric]

Dear Bill,

Why do you blame CITES? Artificially propagated seedlings can be imported into the U.S. with proper permits.

Vietnamese species are more of a problem because the AOS has worked behind the scenes to block all importations of Vietnamese species. They claim to have a letter from the Vietnam Government that supports their position. Now there is a bunch of crap!

Of course P. helenae is another case where the wild populations were decimated for export and growers in the West gladly paid for the wild collected plants. Not a pleasant history.

CITES isn't to blame here. There isn't the commercial demand in the U.S. for this species to make it worth the hassle and additional expense.

Eric

[Tim]

Ok... heres the plan.... everybody DEMAND P. helenae from any orchid nursery you know of. Or get the Orchid Seed Bank to propagate them...?... Eventually somebody will make it work and we'll get those mini paphs! Its just a suggestion

[s.kallima]

How are they doing Ramon ? Still not turning a bit yellow???