A frequent guest on the windowsills is the paphiopedilum orchid. However, it must be kept in the right conditions. More about Paphiopedilum orchid care will be discussed in this article.
Paphiopedilum, also known as lady’s slipper orchids, are a type of orchid that are prized for their distinctive and showy flowers. They are native to Southeast Asia, and are found growing in the wild in tropical and subtropical regions.
The flowers of Paphiopedilum orchids typically have a pouch-shaped lip, which gives them their characteristic slipper-like appearance. They come in a range of colors, including white, yellow, pink, and red, and some varieties may have intricate patterning or spotting on their petals.
Paphiopedilum orchids are popular among orchid enthusiasts and collectors, and there are many different varieties available, each with their own unique characteristics. They can be grown indoors in containers or outside in suitable climates, and require careful attention to their growing conditions, including light, temperature, humidity, and watering. With proper care, Paphiopedilum orchids can be long-lived and produce beautiful blooms year after year.
Paphiopedilum orchid care and culture feature
The considered type of orchid is distinguished by a developed root system. The leaves Paphiopedilum orchid can reach a length of 2-30 inches. The shape of the sheet plate can be different, namely wide-linear, elongated, and in the form of a belt. The leaves are connected with a double socket. The surface of the leaves is uniform, and green.
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Often there is a dark marble pattern, which gives the culture excellent decorative qualities. The height of the bushesvaries from 2 to 30 inches. Single flowers are formed on peduncles. However, there are separate varieties on which several flowers can form.
They are arranged alternately and resemble an arrow in shape. The upper petal has a large width and a rich shade. It can be in the form of a visor, and partially cover the reproductive parts of the plant. This prevents water from getting on them. There are several anthers on the flowers, and almost all of them are distinguished by fruiting.
One of the anthers has the shape of a thyroid body. Almost all species of this orchid belong to the category of lithophytes. That is, they grow on rocky soil or rocks. Several species prefer to grow in the ground, or only on trees. You can find species that prefer to grow in soil rich in limestone.
Proper care
Many people ask, how do you care for Paphiopedilum orchids? More about caring for capricious and demanding plants will be discussed later.
Lighting. Does it need too much light?
Many people wonder how much light Paphiopedilums need.
The selection should be made based on the cultivated species and variety. Namely:
- if the plant has saturated green leaves and has numerous flowers on the bushes, they should be placed in the south, east, or west window of the house with too much light;
- varieties with few flowers and variegated leaves, you need to put flowerpots in the shade.
The length of daylight hours for the orchid in question should be 12 hours. In winter, when there is not enough sunlight on the street, it is required to provide artificial lighting with lamps.
Temperature regime intermediate to warm conditions for warm and cool growers
It should in winter is about 64.4 °F and a summer temperature of 73.4 °F. They grow ideally in these conditions.
- If the bushes have green and narrow leaves, the intermediate to warm conditions should be 35.6 °F from the previous category.
- For Continuous flowering preferring daytime temperatures are at 71.6 °F in summer and 66.2 °F in winter.
- If the leaves on the bushes are broad and green, the winter temperature should be 62.6 °F and the summer temperature should be 68 °F.
As you can see, the difference between summer and winter temperatures is quite impressive.
However, it is important to ensure this condition because it ensures the proper development of warm and cool growers. It is important to ensure temperature fluctuations throughout the day. Iy needs same temperature range. The difference between day and nighttime temperatures should be around 37.4-39.2 °F.
Irrigation Features
A common question is, how often do Paphiopedilum orchids bloom? Plants need to be watered regularly for this. Even the potting medium is subject to moisture. However, the procedure is performed only after the upper layers of the substrate have dried.
While the growing season lasts, the plants need to be watered frequently and insures complete water evaporation. If there is little time left until the formation of the buds, then watering the substrate is carried out only after sufficient depth has dried. This is because a slight drought will stimulate the flowering process. If the plant is at rest, it should be watered only after the substrate has completely dried. After the appearance of the first young shoots, the frequency of watering should be the same as in the summer. The largest amount of water should be poured in when young rosettes are growing.
For irrigation, it is recommended to use only the water that has been settled for less than 72 hours. You can also use room distilled water or liquid passed through a filter. If drops of water fall on the leaf plates, the formation of spots is not excluded. To avoid such unpleasant situations, it is recommended to use root watering.
To do this, flower plastic pots with an orchid are placed in a container filled with distilled water for optimal performance. To prevent the bark from floating away, you should put a load on it. You can also put a mesh on top of the substrate.
Room humidity indicators
If the room is warm, then you will have to constantly moisturize and provide good air circulation. The recommended rate for orchids is 40-50%.
If the room is quite hot, it is better to increase the humidity to 60-70%.
Fertilization in potting medium
When the active stage of the growing season begins, it is recommended to regularly nourish the orchid with useful components. Experienced flower growers are advised to alternate mineral, organic, and high nitrogen fertilizers. The fertilizer application interval is every 2 weeks. The dosage must be selected based on the information on the packaging from the manufacturer.
Paphiopedilum transplant
It is important to choose the right pot. Choose plastic or clay products. The interior must not be glazed. Young bushes need regular transplantation, which is best done in the spring. If the bush is an adult, it is not necessary to refuse a transplant. However, do this only if necessary.
The optimal interval is 2-3 years.
Adult orchids are recommended to be transplanted if the root system does not fit in the plastic pots, or has been affected by rot.
For transplanting paphiopedilum species, it is recommended to use light and loose soil. It should be with a neutral or slightly acidic pH. If you have the desire and opportunity, it is better to buy a special mixture in the store.
It is appropriate to transplant the orchid into the soil prepared by yourself. To do this, you need to mix 1 part of peat, 1 part of coal from a tree, and 5 parts of the bark of needles (sphagnum moss, pine, or juniper).
It is allowed to use a substrate, which includes 5 parts of coniferous medium-grade fir bark, and 1 part of perlite, polystyrene, limestone, and sphagnum moss mix. The main purpose of perlite is to retain moisture.
The bark must first be washed, and then soaked for 48 hours. It is saturated with a sufficient level of moisture. After the bark must be removed from the water, and rinsed again. After preparing the main component, you can mix it with other components.
High-quality drainage should be built at the bottom of the pot. Its optimal thickness is 1 inch. You can fill the bottom with small gravel or expanded clay. Styrofoam or large bark should be poured over the drainage. After the orchid rolls over into another pot, its roots are sprinkled with fine bark. The remaining ingredients are added last.
How to care for flowering
Proper care of the large plants allows them to grow properly and delight the grower with flowering every year.
In this case, the culture will bloom at the same time. Peduncles are formed on a young rosette, which is formed in the current season. If leaves appear at the point of growth, then the bush begins to prepare for flowering. After the leaves grow to the desired size and stop developing.
However, the guarantee of flowering is only achieved if proper care is provided.
The short plate will compact over time and form a bud. If such a situation occurs, the plant should be left at rest.
After all, this suggests that the microclimate in the room is optimal. If you move the pot to another place, the situation may worsen. Each rosette blooms once a year.
The principle of care after flowering
After flowering, the plant needs to be given time to rest. This is required to restore vitality by the time the growing season begins. It is best to place the container with the flower in a place with same temperature range: cold temperatures, where the indicators will be between 59 °F and 68 °F. The interval between watering should be increased, and fertilization should be excluded.
Even despite the state of rest, a kidney will appear near the old outlet. In the future, a young rosette will form from it, and the flower itself. After the appearance of a young sprout, the conditions that were during the growing season should be returned. Then gradually return to the usual interval of watering and fertilizing.
Diseases and pests
If the slipper orchids are not properly cared for, signs of diseases and pests may form on the bushes.
More on this will be discussed later. If the room is damp and cool, signs of fungal infections cannot be ruled out.
In this case, immediate treatment of the bushes with fungicides is required, which are prepared according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
At the same time, there must be the necessary conditions for growth. Otherwise, the problem will return again and again. Often, southeast Asian plants are covered with various pests. It can be worms, scale insects, or ticks. The vast majority of pests are located on the underside of the leaves. Therefore, it is easy to notice them. In such cases, insecticides are required.
Ticks are much more difficult to deal with. This is due to their small size. Spotting ticks is difficult and requires close attention. Often, their presence is indicated by light yellow spots in places where there are punctures.
Leaves can be covered with a thin cobweb.
If mites have been noticed, you need to rinse the orchid under warm running water, preferably in the shower.
After the flower should dry out. Next, you can carry out the treatment with insecticides.
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Conclusion
Orchid care is not difficult, however, systematic. The slightest deviation from the rules is fraught with the death of the bush.