Should I buy a NOID Paph?
 

Hi!

Today I was at the local hardware/garden big box store. There was a lovely collection of Phals and a few Paphs there. The problem was, not one of them had a tag that identified the species. Every pot said something like "Phaelenopsis Hybrid," or "Phaelenopsis with two stems," or some such nonsense.

Anyway, there was this gorgeous black Paph (OK, it was dark purple). I really thought it looked unique, but without anything specific on the pot, other than "Paph," I hesitated to buy it. It wasn't too expensive, and was marked as having come from some giant orchid house in the Netherlands.

Should I go back and get it?

If you like it, why not. As long as you're not planing to hybridize and register the cross, enjoy it and call it whatever you like.

Kim

Sometimes having a name is not the most important. You even get to name it yourself. One of my favorite orchids is a noid, and I wouldn't trade it is for a named orchid, not ever! If you really love it, and it seems like a healthy plant, go get it! :D It must be a very beautiful paph, with a color like that.

I'd buy it! Chances are it is a cross with Raisin Pie in the mix.

if you like it, why not? go for it... ;)

(I have 3 of them...)

Yeah sure why not, If it caught your eye then go back and get it :evil:
Don't get hung up on name tags, you wouldn't enjoy it more with a name tag, wouldcha'?

:waving

All good advice. I think I made the mistake of thinking that I could hold my nose in the air because I had been reading this forum for a whole week, and am some kind of expert now. HA!!

Named or not, this paph was gorgeous, and deserves a good home. What am I going to do with the name anyway?

All of my orchids have come from stores like that and none have any kind tag. It doesn't prevent me from smiling when I see one of them getting buds.

I'll go out there today and buy it. I hope it is still there. I'll post some pics of it next week when I get my camera back.

Thanks, everyone!

All right, I got it! This is a really cool looking orchid. I haven't seen anything like it before, however I am VERY unfamiliar with Paphs.

It came with a tag that only said Paphiopedilum, but it identified the company that grew it in the Netherlands, which has a website. I went online, and I think I found my Paph listed here!

Does that mean that this isn't a NOID anymore? I am looking forward to posting pictures of it, but my wife has my camera until the weekend.

Oh, also, after I bought it I noticed that the pot is divided in two. There are actually two plants here. I wonder if they both will flower the same. I'm planning on repotting this plant and don't know if I should 1) replace the potting medium in it's original divided plastic pot, 2) Plant them together in a new pot, or 3) put them in two seperate pots. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

p.s. I also couldn't resist another orchid that was in the clearance bin. It doesn't say, but I believe it to be an onc. of some sort. It is at the end of it's blooming cycle and needs some TLC, but for three dollars I couldn't help myself. I hope I get my camera back before the blooms fall off.

Ooo if it looks like that I'm jeleous :drool:

If I had got here before you bought I would also have said 'Go for it'. Since reading OB I've sometimes had a twinge of regret that all my 'chids are NOID, but it wouldn't stop me buying another one.

I can tell why you fell in love with the colour of yours, I'm just thinking about getting a Paph as my next orchid and as I have looked arround on the web for them the deep purple just like that have been my favorite.

As for the pots, I'm just a begginer myself but I would be inclined to give each it's own pot. The general advice I've seen here on OB in the past is that it's not a good idea to pot two together. The other thing that comes to mind though is advice I've seen to not 'overpot', so if you do decide to pot seperately make sure the pots are not too big for the roots on each.

Rosie, you might surf around a bit on the website that I posted with the picture on it. Appearantly this business sells all over Europe, including the UK. I bet you could find someone nearby who has it. When I went back to the store today to buy it, I had my choice of two. The other had a bigger bloom, but it looked like it was starting to dry a bit. Anyway, I think they both look better than the one in the picture. Mine is much darker and I can't quit looking at it. BTW, I sent an email to this grower requesting a tag. Who know? Maybe it won't be a NOID for long!