How do I grow a Paphiopedilum?

[viper]

I have never grown a Paphiopedilum orchid and I am thinking of getting one.
But how do i grow these orchids? and what is a good Paphiopedilum for a begginer?

[fred]

I think the first thing you should learn is the Culture of paphs

AOS Culture information you can download this to your pc
http://www.aos.org/aos/orchids/docum...turepaphio.pdf

Orchid Care for Phalenonopis & Paphiopedilum Orchids

[Anton]

kmarch is the resident Paph expert, he's been growing them for years. Read the sheets first, then ask him questions you have after reading them.

[viper]

Thanks. that was very helpfull. what soil type do they need? what temp is needed?

[kmarch]

viper,

I think you haven't read the culture sheets we recommended as the answers to the questions you've asked are in those culture sheets. Please read the culture sheets and if you have questions about things not in the culture sheets, let us know.

Also, when posting new threads, please put them in the proper category. You've started this thread in the "Orchid Pests and Diseases" category instead of the "Orchid Culture" category. Please take a moment before starting a thread to make sure you're starting it in the correct category.

[viper]

sorry. i didn't read the second link.
do you think i will be able to grow a Paphiopedilum outside in my garden? will it be too cold in winter for it to grow?

[kmarch]

viper,

There are a number of Paphs you could grow outside in Melbourne (potted properly as Paphs should be and not grown planted in the ground in a garden). Look for cool growing Paphs like Paph villosum, Paph insigne, Paph micranthum, Paph armeniacum, or Paph vietnamense. Hybrids you oculd grow cool include any of the large exhibition-type Paphs, Paph Crossianum, and hybrids made with the species I've listed previously.

[Anton]

Did you read the notes ?

They are indoors growing, especially in Melbourne, unless you have a green house.

I think these are a bit beyond you at present. They take a lot of care and knowledge, read up on them.

I have been growing orchids for a few years, but only recently got my first Paphs, after researeching and asking questions for several months.

These are a too expensive plant to just get without prior knowledge of how to look after them and grow them.

Back to the books.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Anton

They are indoors growing, especially in Melbourne, unless you have a green house.

Not necessarily. Those that I mentioned can be grown outdoors in Melbourne without heat.

In spite of that though, Anton is correct that Paphs are more expensive than other orchids and that getting some experience with other orchids is a good idea before starting into Paphs, especially for a very young person like yourself.

Probably best for you to start with Cymbidiums and your Aussie natives like Den kingianum hybrids (available all over and cheap).

And also as Anton suggested, get in the habit of reading and studying up on orchids yourself. You will need to do this constantly if you're going to grow orchids as a hobby.

[viper]

what is a good paph for a beginer?

[fred]

Originally Posted by Kmarch

Look for cool growing Paphs like Paph villosum, Paph insigne, Paph micranthum, Paph armeniacum, or Paph vietnamense. Hybrids you oculd grow cool include any of the large exhibition-type Paphs, Paph Crossianum, and hybrids made with the species I've listed previously.

Viper you have been given the answer to this question four posts above
please read the post ( advice ) that the members are giving you.

[kmarch]

viper, you're probably a nice kid, but you seriously need to learn how to read a post completely and thoroughly. This makes about 5 or 6 times you've asked a question that someone has just answered for you in a previous post. The people on this forum are helpful and generous with their knowledge and time but please don't waste their valuable time by not reading what they are kind enough to post for you.

[pikevi]

viper: I think when we are up against a huge task, such as starting to grow orchids, we are overwhelmed with information, anxiety,confusion and ,maybe a bit of personal idiosyncrasies and we tend to focus more on questions than the answers. It is possible that you have your own way of finding/doing things with the orchids.

I am guilty of that too . But I make an extra effort to follow the advice of the members in here. Still I have a missed a few suggestions. Besides causing frustration to the other members you may really miss out on something very important information if you are a serious about growing orchids.

It pays to re-read your own threads more than once just to avoid missing some posts. It will help if you are occasionally as scatter-brained as I am

Welcome to the forum.