My first paph

[delphiguy]

Just want to share with a new orchid we bought. This morning we decided to
take another drive to Manila, about 2hrs drive. As the wife and I are having
this itch that we need to get a new orchid.

Anyhow, we ended up with a few, mostly we got vanda's (i'll post another thread later
as i think this one needs a thead of its own.) but there's this one that caught the
wife's eyes. It was a paphiopedulum, since I've wanted to have one anyways I agreed,
(but really which husband has the guts to argue with their wife? especially involving orchids?)

The label says says paphiopedilum ciliolare LSS I have no idea what LSS
stands for.

Im attaching, the pictures so that you can enjoy the beauty. I hope that you'll love my new baby
as we are do, we are actually keeping it in our bedroom, i've never tired of looking at it.

Also some culture tips will be appreciated.

[kmarch]

Paphiopedilum ciliolare (capital "P" on Paphiopedilum) is a famous, quite popular species. It's used in all of our Maudiae-type breeding. The LSS isn't part of the name. It might be some sort of code the breeder or nursery used.

Paphiopedilum ciliolare is one of the mottle-leaf paphs, they only need low to moderate levels of light (are well suited to in-home growing), intermediate temps, and prefer ot be kept evenly and gently moist, never dry and never soggy. I will say though that through our super hot dry summer, my maudiae-types dried out a couple times and seem to have made it through ok. I've not lost very many at all, so these can probably take a little more abuse than other paphs.

[Jirel]

Congradulations on your first paph! Its a beauty.

[jim blanford]

I have one also, and find it easy to grow and bloom, here's what mine looked like this year, have fun and enjoy it.
....... Jim

[patticake]

What a beauty! I love Paphs, also- Thanks for the picture! Here's a link on culture...AOS | Paphiopedilum

[delphiguy]

kmarch thanks for info. When I look at it the plant is very small is this a mini? also how
long does the bloom last? how often does it bloom? and does it only have one bloom per
spike?

And since we're keeping it in our bedroom, I placed it in a table about 1 foot away from
the window (east facing) however, we have a quite thick dark curtain in our bedroom so that
very little light comes in, except when its midday, then there's reasonble light. will that
be enough?

Thanks to you all, this is definitely not going to be our last one, as we have already made
reservations for 2 more i dont know the name but its endemic also.

[rodbender]

Very good choice for a first Paph. The mottled leaf Paphs seam to be a bit more forgiving and can take a good deal of light

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by delphiguy

kmarch thanks for info. When I look at it the plant is very small is this a mini?

'Mini" is a very relative term and not a standardized one. A lot of paphs fall into various mini categories because they tend to have smaller growths (well most do anyway).

Originally Posted by delphiguy

also how long does the bloom last?

It depends on a few things, the species/hybrid, the conditions, etc but probably about a month.

Originally Posted by delphiguy

how often does it bloom?

Your paph will flower only once off each new growth. If you look you might find a small new growth starting at the base. Some paphs will start a new growth at about the time they flower. It usually takes a year to 2 for the new growth to get up to flowering size.

Originally Posted by delphiguy

and does it only have one bloom per
spike?

Your paph will have one flower per spike. Other paphs have different flowering habits. Some have 2 per spike, the multi-florals can have up to 6-8 per spike all open at once, while still other paphs are what we call sequential bloomers which means they produce one flower after another sequentially for many months, even years.

Originally Posted by delphiguy

...light. will that be enough?

Hmmm, hard to say. The east window part sounds good but the heavy dark curtain doesn't. I'm not really sure.

[delphiguy]

rod
it was actually suggested to us by a very nice man, he's not actually into selling orchids
as most of his orchids are very expensive, what he does is he breeds them and hybridize
them and sells the hybrids for a cheaper price. very knowledgeable guy.

[delphiguy]

kmarch

Your paph will flower only once off each new growth. If you look you might find a small new growth starting at the base. Some paphs will start a new growth at about the time they flower. It usually takes a year to 2 for the new growth to get up to flowering size.

so what happens with the old one? does it die? yes, there is already a small growth in it.

so what do i do after the bloom has faded on that growth? should I cut it off (the old growth) and throw it away? or can i just
cut it and use it to propagate to get more plants? or just leave it there?

Your paph will have one flower per spike. Other paphs have different flowering habits. Some have 2 per spike, the multi-florals can have up to 6-8 per spike all open at once, while still other paphs are what we call sequential bloomers which means they produce one flower after another sequentially for many months, even years.

wow, it would be great to have one of those sequential bloomers. id really love that. that would mean no dull moment for that
plant.

Hmmm, hard to say. The east window part sounds good but the heavy dark curtain doesn't. I'm not really sure.

i understand, i'll just put it back on the windowsill, so that it can get enough light without the curtain filtering it.
i could maybe put it behind some vandas so that the vanda leaves can act as a natural shade for it. Problem is that
if I put it in the windowsill, we can't close the window, if it is not too picky from being moved around, then maybe I could
put it on the sill during the day and put indoors at night? Geez, i really need to work on my expanding my growing area. I
really hate moving plants around hehe.

[jay]

Congrats on your new Paph, surely it won't be your last.

When the old bloom dies, the growth will not flower again but will still photosynthesize and create energy for the whole plant. Eventually the growth my die off and lose leaves.

Sounds like you are well on your way to a nice Paph. collection.

[delphiguy]

oh yeah, we're driving back on may3, to get our reserved orders, its similiar to this one
but with a flowing ribbon like thing, and its a beauty.

thanks for the info, then i'll just leave the old growth there.

[hulaorchid]

Yes, paphs are very collectable!!! LOL
What a great 1st one!!

[delphiguy]

thanks hula, it is just the first of many more to come. i really need to expand my growing as i am running out of space for them. hehe.