Paphiopedilum

Family

Orchidaceae

Botanical Name

Paphiopedilum

Plant Common Name

Lady's Slipper Orchid, Orchid

General Description

The flowers of Paphiopedilum are fanciful and distinctive. They have bulbous pouch-like floral lips, which is why they are commonly called “slipper orchids.” The genus consists of about 70 species that originate from the forest floors of the Old World tropics and subtropics from India and China to Papua New Guinea. There are thousands more hybrids and varieties, called grexes.

Most Paphiopedilum are terrestrial, meaning they grow in soil like most other plants. A few are epiphytes (tree dwellers), while others are lithophytes (rock dwellers). The plants and flowers are somewhat different from other orchids but still share some common characteristics. Slipper orchids are monocots; which means they are related to plants like lilies and grasses. The leaves tend to be linear, with parallel leaf veins and flower parts in threes.

The low-growing plants exhibit sympodial growth without the typical orchid pseudobulbs. Sympodial orchids creep laterally along growing surfaces with thick roots that appear at the base of the plants. These orchids develop a few leaves on sturdy shoots in a fan-like arrangement. Once a shoot flowers another is produced and the “old shoot” will not flower again. Paphiopedilum leaves may be wide or thin and lance, elliptical, oval or strap-shaped. They are sometimes folded like a “V” or flat and either green or mottled with gray, dark-green or silver.

The flowers are usually produced singly and have six showy petal/tepals. One of the petals is commonly large and upright, two spread outward or angle down and may be fluted and twisted or large and petal-like, while two more join under the pouch. The pouch is a unique structure because it captures pollinating insects and forces them past the male and female reproductive parts to capture and distribute pollen. The pollen is usually bound together into two large masses, called pollinia, which only orchids have. Insects move the pollinia from flower to flower as they crawl through an escape at the base of each pouch. The flowers are in a wide variety of shades and combinations of colors. The dust-like seeds are produced by the thousands to millions in bulbous pods.

Paphiopedilum culture is variable. Each species has its own needs for best growth and flowering. Many require indirect or moderate to low light levels. They do best in highly humid environments, regular watering and are sensitive to cold and frost. Many require warm days and cool nights. Slipper orchids grow best when tightly potted in good potting soil amended with orchid bark for good drainage. They can be difficult and slow growing, but once the right combination of light, water and growing medium is found they will thrive. The compact plants offer showy long-lasting blooms and make good houseplants. Most will grow well in a window with moderate light (no full sun) on a tray of rocks, to increase drainage and humidity and need regular water and light, even dosages of standard orchid fertilizer.