New Paph

[Tobi]

I picked up a Paph bellatulum ('Standing Tall' x 'Red on Red') at an open house
from one of our local vendors this weekend. Just wondering if anyone has
grown one of these and if their cultural conditions are any different than
other Paphs. I read that bellatulum blooms are more on the ground than
from erect spikes. With the 'Standing Tall' cross cultivar name I was wondering
if this hybrid has a tendency to grow more erect? Any info would be helpful.
Thanks.

[kmarch]

Well Tobi, you've managed to choose one of my all time favorite Paphs. Paph bellatulum is one of 5 Paphs (4 species and 1 natural hybrid) in the Brachypetalum Section of Paphs. "Brachys" as they're sometimes informally called, are all small growing plants which form clumps. They all have white to cream coloured flowers with red to burgundy markings that range form fine speckles (as in Paph niveum) to heavy splotches (as in some Paph bellatulum). Paph bellatulum comes form south-east asia, more specifically south China/Thailand.

Paph bellatulum prefers slightly warmer conditions that other Paphs with a minimum night time temp of around 65F or so. They do well with medium light. They also like a slightly cooler, drier (but never dry) winter rest which helps to initiate bloom. They like smaller sized bark mix left somewhat loosely packed. They grow on rocky outcroppings and many growers put a bit of oyster shell or a bit of horticultural lime in the mix. They can grow to form nice clumps with many flowers.

P. bellatulum is a short stemmed Paph an in the wild where the plants grow more or less on their side on bits of rock the flowers are somewhat pendant. As we grow them upright in our pots they generally need a small stake to support the flower on it relatively thin stem. The flowers are very large for the size of the plant.

I can't wait to see it in bloom!

[exasperatus2002]

anyone got a pic?

[kmarch]

Here's one pic
and another
and yet another pic of bellatulum in situ (in the wild)


AndI forgot to mention in my previous post that bellatulum as well as other Brachys come in alba varieties. Here is a pic of Paph bellatulum v. alba.

[pikevi]

Real beauties, aren't they?

Thanks, kmarch.

Congratulations , Tobi.

[exasperatus2002]

Me like. Great another chid for the wish list. lol If I dont need a bigger house for my daughters stuff I'll need it for the orchids.

[exasperatus2002]

For the PA geeks here, parkside has this Paph blooming size in 4" pots and they also have the alba variant as well as a seedling (2 yrs from blooming). Hmmm that would bump it up on my list as I can drive there.......

[kmarch]

Parkside has really excellent Paphs.

[Tobi]

Thanks for all your help Kevin. Will keep you all posted if I get blooms.

[rmt135]

Kmarch,

Do you think this paph can do well in the tropic?

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by rmt135

Do you think this paph can do well in the tropic?

Yes I do. They like minimum temperatures around 60-65F (about 15-18C). Keep them out of bright light. Don't let them dry out.