Info on the parvisepalum paphs?

[Angurek]

I've been meaning to try some of these guys, but I'm not sure how they like to be grown. Any tips?

[slipperfreak]

This is a somewhat complicated group. I'll start by discussing the species individually...

P. delenatii is the easiest to grow and flower. Grows under standard Paph conditions - low light, intermediate temps, consistent moisture. It is the only Parvi that is NOT calcicolous.

P. armeniacum is easy to grow, but tough to bloom. It likes moderate to bright light and will take Cattleya light in the winter, when light should be its brightest. The temps must cool down drastically and water reduced in the winter for blooms. High humidity and good air movement are recommended throughout the year. It is stoloniferous and as such is best grown in a basket or wide, shallow bulb pan.

P. micranthum grows similarly to armeniacum.

P. malipoense is quite easy to grow and to initiate flower spikes (grows like delenatii, maybe a little warmer and brighter, and with more calcium), but the spikes take a VERY long time to develop and conditions must remain constant during their development or they will often blast.

P. jackii grows the same as malipoense.

P. vietnamense grows the same as P. delenatii, but with more calcium.

P. emersonii likes moderate light, intermediate temps. Some clones are easier to bloom than others.

P. hangianum grows much the same as emersonii.

Now with that said, the hybrids are easier to grow than most of the species, and will grow under pretty standard paph conditions. They do like extra calcium, and they must have consistent moisture, but also good drainage and good air movement. Most Parvis are slow growing and often take long breaks between blooms.

That pretty much sums it up. If you have any questions, let me know!

[Angurek]

Thanks for the info, Joe. The four species that catch my eye are micranthum, hangianum, malipoense, and jackii. As far as hybrids go, my favorite is Magic Lantern.

I grow plants that enjoy similar conditions, so I think I may be able to handle them. But how do you supply their calcium?

[slipperfreak]

Originally Posted by Angurek

Thanks for the info, Joe. The four species that catch my eye are micranthum, hangianum, malipoense, and jackii. As far as hybrids go, my favorite is Magic Lantern.

I grow plants that enjoy similar conditions, so I think I may be able to handle them. But how do you supply their calcium?

I prefer to top-dress the medium with crushed oyster shell. You can buy it from orchid nurseries, greenhouses, and some hydroponics stores. I use 1/2 tsp for pots under 4", 1 tsp for 4-5" pots, and 2 tsp for 6" pots. You simply replace it once the shells have diappeared from the surface. An alternative is dolomite lime, which I have never used as a top-dressing but used to mix in with my potting mix (a tsp or two per pot). I like top-dressing better because you can tell when it's time to add more.

P. Magic Lantern is an excellent Parvi to start with, but you'll find it grows the same as any other Paph. For something that is a little more challenging, P. malipoense is a good start. P. micranthum is tougher to bloom, and the others you mentioned are tough to find!

[quiltergal]

You can also find crushed oyster shell at feed stores. It's used for chicken scratch. You can probably buy a lifetime supply for a couple of bucks there!