good beginner Paph

[wesly2007]

just wondering what ones r good beginner plants? i really like these orchids.

I currently have a few Phal. and some miniature orchids for the terrarium but im wondering what is a good beginner paph?

I do realy like the yellow ones or the dark red ones.

any help or opinions would greatly help. thanks

[slipperfreak]

Any of the Maudiae hybrids (there are thousands, with waxy flowers and mottled leaves) make good beginner's Paphs. These are very common and often sold as labelless pot plants like Phals.

The Cochlopetalums (sequential multiflorals) are also easy, with the exception of P. victoria-mariae. these can bloom for years at a time when mature.

Avoid Brachypetalums (the short-spiked plants with mottled leaves and rounded flowers) for now, and look to try them out once you've got some experience. For the most part Parvisepalums (the incredibly pretty, dainty flowers, with mottled leaves) are not very good starter plants either, even though they are irresistable, but some of the hybrids like Magic Lantern and the species P. delenatii are easy. Parvi x multifloral crosses are very slow growing and tend to be difficult to bloom, but Parvi x Cochlo crosses like Deperle, Golddollar, and Satin Smoke can be easy and rewarding to grow.

Standard-complex hybrids (the bulldog types) are generally quite easy, though they can be slow-growing, and their quality widely varies. I consider them intermediate level Paphs.

Multiflorals are slow-growing and can be difficult to bloom - leave them for later.

There are many novelty crosses out there (which I call mutts) that combine many different sections. There are some that are easy to grow and have pretty flowers, but they are often not great. Only buy ones in flower, that you know are attractive (though I recommend your first Paph be in flower anyway, so you can see what it looks like right away and not have to wait).

Finally, the species vary widely in their cultural requirements. I already mentioned that delenatii is easy. Other easy species include callosum, barbatum, victoria-regina (syn. chamberlainianum), primulinum, glaucophyllum, liemianum, villosum, insigne (though it needs cold temps to flower in the fall), spicerianum, and some others that I'm forgetting about right now.

As you can see, Paphs are a complicated group! Check out this link: Paphiopedilum & Phragmipedium Intro Page - AnTec Laboratory. It has a "Paph Reading Room" which really helped me out when I started, and I still check back from time to time as it is a great reference.

Hope this helps!

[dounoharm]

amen....and particularly buy in flower! that will get you all excited and you will want to buy more! there are so many beautiful paphs out there!

[wesly2007]

wow that is very informative, thank you

my new question is how can i go about acquiring these plants. im sure you cant post any specific sites here but i would love it if you gave me some suggestions through my pm.

thanks

[slipperfreak]

Originally Posted by wesly2007

wow that is very informative, thank you

my new question is how can i go about acquiring these plants. im sure you cant post any specific sites here but i would love it if you gave me some suggestions through my pm.

thanks

It's okay people post links to other sites all the time on this forum!

I have never purchased plants from American vendors before, so I can only recommend places I've heard are good. Here are some links:

Orchids Limited - Buy Orchids and Orchid Supplies

Piping Rock Orchids - Piping Rock Orchids Home Page

Orchid Inn - Orchid Inn, Ltd. (actually I have purchased from here before - very high quality)

These are three of the best-known and most reputable Paph dealers in the States. There are others as well. If you go to OrchidWire - Connecting a World of Orchids you can search for vendors by state.

[orquicin]

They are my plants predilects, i have 10 phapiopediums and that any the they are beatifully.

[Connie Star]

Originally Posted by slipperfreak

Any of the Maudiae hybrids (there are thousands, with waxy flowers and mottled leaves) make good beginner's Paphs. These are very common and often sold as labelless pot plants like Phals.

The Cochlopetalums (sequential multiflorals) are also easy, with the exception of P. victoria-mariae. these can bloom for years at a time when mature.

Avoid Brachypetalums (the short-spiked plants with mottled leaves and rounded flowers) for now, and look to try them out once you've got some experience. For the most part Parvisepalums (the incredibly pretty, dainty flowers, with mottled leaves) are not very good starter plants either, even though they are irresistable, but some of the hybrids like Magic Lantern and the species P. delenatii are easy. Parvi x multifloral crosses are very slow growing and tend to be difficult to bloom, but Parvi x Cochlo crosses like Deperle, Golddollar, and Satin Smoke can be easy and rewarding to grow.

Standard-complex hybrids (the bulldog types) are generally quite easy, though they can be slow-growing, and their quality widely varies. I consider them intermediate level Paphs.

Multiflorals are slow-growing and can be difficult to bloom - leave them for later.

There are many novelty crosses out there (which I call mutts) that combine many different sections. There are some that are easy to grow and have pretty flowers, but they are often not great. Only buy ones in flower, that you know are attractive (though I recommend your first Paph be in flower anyway, so you can see what it looks like right away and not have to wait).

Finally, the species vary widely in their cultural requirements. I already mentioned that delenatii is easy. Other easy species include callosum, barbatum, victoria-regina (syn. chamberlainianum), primulinum, glaucophyllum, liemianum, villosum, insigne (though it needs cold temps to flower in the fall), spicerianum, and some others that I'm forgetting about right now.

As you can see, Paphs are a complicated group! Check out this link: Paphiopedilum & Phragmipedium Intro Page - AnTec Laboratory. It has a "Paph Reading Room" which really helped me out when I started, and I still check back from time to time as it is a great reference.

Hope this helps!

Which of the species you mentioned are Cochlopetalums? These sound intriguing and I would like to try them. I am a beginner, growing orchids for a year; I have gotten a paph and a phrag to bloom for me.

[orquicin]

Here in Buenos Aires, paphiopedium: insigne, vellosum, speciarium going very well and bloom every year.
A few years ago I'm working with a philipinense that still could not do that FLOwer, but we will succeed there.
Hasta siempre Eduardo

[slipperfreak]

Originally Posted by Connie Star

Which of the species you mentioned are Cochlopetalums? These sound intriguing and I would like to try them. I am a beginner, growing orchids for a year; I have gotten a paph and a phrag to bloom for me.

The Cochlo species I mentioned are victoria-regina (syn. chamberlainianum), primulinum, glaucophyllum, and liemianum.

[dounoharm]

i also noticed that incredibleorchids has some nice maudiaes for sale in the classified here....he has been known to sell some nice orchids...gl!!