About
A deciduous, fast-growing, tropical liana to 15m or more from Africa and Asia, with bipinnate, ferny, bright green leaves and large cylindrical catkins or spikes of cream flowers, followed by extraordinary, rope-like, flattened seed pods to 1m or more long � the longest pods of any plant. A spectacular tropical climber for a large, warm, frost-free glasshouse or tropical garden.
About the genus
Paphiopedilum are mainly terrestrial, and lithophytic or epiphytic. They lack pseudobulbs and produce short stems with strap-shaped leathery leaves. Each shoot ends in a solitary flower or racemes of 2-8 flowers each with a distinctive variably-shaped lip or pouch
Plant details
Suggested usesWindowsills, shaded conservatories, orchid collections. A rewarding houseplant.
Care notes
CultivationGrow in fine bark-based orchid compost. Bright indirect light, no direct sun. Keep evenly moist (no drying out). 15-25�C.
PruningRemove spent flower stems at the base. No other pruning needed.
PropagationDivide when the plant has multiple mature growths. Each division needs at least 3 fans.
Pest resistanceMealybugs and scale insects may colonise leaf bases.
Disease resistanceRoot rot from overwatering or stale compost. Repot every 1-2 years.