Summer 2024 plant project- Paph primary hybrid

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In early May I received Paphs. Charlene (haynaldianum x liemianum) and Duguesclin (sukhakulii x mastersianum) from Paph Paradise. I'll post photos tomorrow.

When David Sorokowski spoke to our club meeting in April I bought Dollgoldi (rothschildianum x armeniacum) and Gloria Naugle (rothschildianum x micranthum), but they aren't going to flower for a few more years.

Something Dave said when he spoke to our club: These plants love water. He showed a video of him thoroughly soaking them with a water wand for at least 15 seconds, getting the entire plant wet.

The only time I've gotten into trouble with Paphs. is when I don't water often enough. They tolerate going dry once or twice, but may stop growing for months. More than that and the plant is likely to die.

Before it got hot this year, the humidity was somewhat low. I found by watching the Paphs. I kept in my house that I needed to water them every 2-3 days, or they would begin wrinkling. This is much more often than some people water them inside a humid greenhouse. These are not orchids that should get almost dry between waterings!

[tmoney]

yeah, for sure even in our apartment we “water” 2x per week, but found that semi-hydro and Paphs are a match made in heaven! at least in our apartment only 1 of our Paphs routinely drinks the reservoir dry between waterings, the rest just like the constantly moist media. without a doubt when we do get back from summer vacation and get our new paph it will be put immediately into s/h!

this is a different way to buy orchids for us! over a month to think, browse, and dream! i can’t wait to hit the buy button on something soon!

im surprised nobody has mentioned the Pinocchio! maybe the trend on that has past??

[FranningtonBear]

Does anyone have any UK suppliers of Paphs? My usual go-to's do not have any primary hybrids

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by FranningtonBear

Does anyone have any UK suppliers of Paphs? My usual go-to's do not have any primary hybrids

While I can't advise from first hand experience since I'm not in the UK, one vendor that has popped up several times while searching for a plant for myself is Elite Orchids. They seem to be specialized in Paphs. I can't find much in the way of reviews, but I see on their facebook page that they have recently won several RHS awards for their Paphs, so it can't be a bad place I would think!

[tmoney]

howdy!

from elite orchids (in the UK), there is this primary

https://www.eliteorchids.com/product...rieanum-album/

and this

https://www.eliteorchids.com/product...niae-x-anitum/

or

https://www.eliteorchids.com/product...-wardii-eo155/

but i would probly pop on one of the big ones of this:

https://www.eliteorchids.com/product...dianum-lilimo/

anyways, that was page 3 or 20something!

[Blueszz]

Originally Posted by tmoney

howdy!

from elite orchids (in the UK), there is this primary

Paphiopedilum Jakub Szlachetko (tranlienianum album x fairrieanum album) | Elite Orchids

and this

Paphiopedilum intaniae x anitum | Elite Orchids

or

Paphiopedilum Debbie Robinson (appletonianum x wardii) EO155 | Elite Orchids

but i would probly pop on one of the big ones of this:

Paphiopedilum Bell Royal (kolopakingii (var Topperii) x rothschildianum ‘Lilimo’) | Elite Orchids

anyways, that was page 3 or 20something!

Paphiopedilum Bell Royal is pretty!

[FranningtonBear]

Thanks for the tip-off, for some reason Elite Orchids has never appeared on my searches!

I've narrowed it down to these ones, any advice? This will be my first Paph..

https://www.eliteorchids.com/product...Flowering+Size

or

Paphiopedilum Debbie Robinson (appletonianum x wardii) EO155 | Elite Orchids

[LexaCat]

Hi FranningtonBear,

The orchid at the first link looks to be a sib cross of a species.

The second one is a primary hybrid of two species, and one of the parents is appletonianum. I have had a Paph appletonianum for a couple of years and it is really easy to grow and bloom. Seems like this could be an ideal first Paph.

[Blueszz]

Here is my Saint Swithin from Akerne.

As expected, the leaves are long. Up to almost 14", 35.5 cm.
This is the height of the plant without it's pot.

The 2 outer leaves were a bit unruly / too floppy. Almost laying flat. Not because dehydration but just because how the plant grew. I decided to help them upright to safe some space for now.

For anyone considering buying the plant. Keep in mind this is and will become a huge plant.




No signs of a spike yet, which I'm happy with considering this member project. But it's starting a new fan, it's tiny though.

I might buy another primary hybrid as project plant later this season, after the summer holidays. Then I won't be ahead of you, especially with the ones living in Europe.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Blueszz

No signs of a spike yet, which I'm happy with considering this member project. But it's starting a new fan, it's tiny though.

I might buy another primary hybrid as project plant later this season, after the summer holidays. Then I won't be ahead of you, especially with the ones living in Europe.

Be patient... you may still be a year or so away from blooming. It's fast for a multifloral, but that's relative. the pattern for these is to grow leaves, then over the next year grow roots, only after that (likely the following year) does it think about blooming. But when they DO bloom, OH BABY!