Paphiopeilum sanderianum questions and advice
 

I really would like a Paph.sanderiunam. (Not a hybrid) I have always heard that they are difficult to grow. What make them different from other paphs? Do they need distilled water? What are the growth requirements to grow and bloom them successfully? I would love to hear all personal experiences and advice. I know they can be very large and can be expensive. Also, where is a good place to buy them from online around blooming size or near blooming size for reasonable prices? Any websites with sales and/or care information would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Welcome and Hello ! Sit back, relax and read postings from some of our members where you can glean precious knowledge on how to care for your orchids based on their wealth of experience...
I have just discovered recently for myself that Paphs are not hard to grow...
just follow the culture and discover a regular watering and fertilizer regimen...and youre set...
as for your kind of plant:
Paph.sanderianum is not rare nor hard to find; but it is expensive ... it can be found in many orchidgrowers sites(whiteoaks.com; argusorchids.net;orchidsweb; Haussmans; orchids.com; sunsetvalley orchids; carterandholmes , Amazon.com and on Ebay)...and many more Im just too tired to type

I'm not really sure they are that difficult to grow. They do require good water and pretty high humidity. The plants need to be rather large before they are mature enough to bloom.
Joann

Hi Orchid Boy, Here's a culture page from Orchidweb: Orchid of the Week Library: Paph. sanderianum

Bill

Have one and bloomed it. Not much special care needed. I grow it moderately bright, keep it moist. They like to get multiple growths going before they blooms. On occasion one will bloom on a single growth, but it sucks the life out of the plant and could bloom it to death.


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=49.281877,-122.828138

What kind of light does it need? Regular paphiopedilum light, phal light, cattleya light?

Closer to cattleya light works for me. Same kind of light I use for my roths.


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=49.280930,-122.835342

I bought this guy from Marlow's Orchids this summer. Supposedly it's about 2 years away from blooming size. Seems to be doing ok under my very inexperienced care; it's been pushing out a new leaf veeerrry slooowly (3 inches over 4 months growth...)

Sanderianum is not particularly difficult to grow, it's just very slow, and has to have many growths before it will bloom. Piping Rock Orchids has nice stuff. Species Paphiopedilums - Choice selections for any collection (Page 3)

I don't find it hrd to grow than any other paphs. I do grow it under HID as all multifloral paphs have the same light range. Carter and Holmes has a special offering now. 2 NBS sands for 75.00. That's a damn good deal.

Carter and Holmes Orchids

Wow! $75.00 for two plants is a good deal ??!! they better be budding or a large specimen that have bloomed before...if its a seedling, forget about it !

They are not cheap plants. If you want a blooming size plant, you'll have to pay for it. If you want a cheap one. Prepare to invest some time. The ones I posted above is a good deal. Normally it cost more than that just for one.

Looking at this dude's post. It's certainly a decent size one.
Nice package from Carter & Holmes... - Slippertalk Orchid Forum- The best slipper orchid forum for paph, phrag and other lady slipper orchid discussion!

I beleive you...Paphs can be really expensive...I just saw a minute ago at Ebay a huge specie with two feet leaf length and two growths in the pot...had bloomed twice...at 2 more days to end and the highest bid was already 175.00 US dollars

I certainly agree with this comment! In spite of my best efforts, my little sanderianum is the slowest growing orchid I've ever tried! Haven't given up hope yet though.

:)

They are very slow as seedling but when it reach blooming size and a new growth started. It speeds up pretty fast.