Bellatulum Opening Up!

[Dorothy]

I know what it is ..
it's a pretty little thing

[IdahoOrchid]

Originally Posted by Blondie

It says:

Paph. bellatulum 'Sugar Spots' X Paph. bellatulum 'Pepper Top'

Until proven decisively we will go with what it says on the label. The label does NOT indicate that it is a hybrid. If you notice it is bellatulum x bellatulum. The names in the quotes are just that, cultivar names that growers use to differentiate between different plants. Each plant can have its own cultivar name.

YOU can name your plant whatever you want to as long as no one else has used it. I am not exactly sure how you would figure that out though.

[Blondie]

Very interesting... so much to learn. For now, I will just call her Bella. She seems to be answering to that right now.

[Mahon]

Your Paphiopedilum is actually the species Paphiopedilum niveum. There is no other that looks like this, not even the new species Paph. thaianum.

Paph. niveum is a low elevation native to the Langkawi Islands in Malaysia. This species typically will bloom May-July, and likes heavier watering after blooming until Sept. or Oct. Paph. niveum will tolerate low amounts of light, but likes to be in brighter conditions. Give warmer temperatures for this species.

That's about all there is I know about it! Here is mine for comparison. Note that this species is somewhat variable.

Paphiopedilum niveum


-Pat

EDIT: Thought that I would add that vegetatively, you plant resembles a Paph. bellatulum. The solid purple and slight waviness is typical for Paph. bellatulum, which can fool one to think it was that species out of bloom. However, yours is really Paph. niveum. The primary hybrid between both of those species is Paph. Psyche, which is significantly different.

[Blondie]

OK, now there seems no doubt. Your plant and my plant look exactly alike (except that whole burnt petal thing on mine...)

Which leads me to the thought--why would a really great greenhouse make a labeling boo boo? I suppose human error is always there, no matter who you are. Everyone can make a mistake, eh?

Thank you for helping me figure out what my plant is. I will move it into more light since I thought it didn't need as much--oops!

[jim blanford]

Blondie, I think Weng is right. This my Paph. bellatulun it opened this week. It looks different then what you have I know mine is correct. Sorry, Jim.

[Blondie]

That flower is so pretty! I think I'm going to have to get one, which means (eek) that I might be becoming an orchid hoarder...

[slipperfreak]

Hey Blondie,

You don't need a greenhouse to grow orchids! So many do really well in the home, and considering the fact that you are flowering (apparently) a Paph. niveum (which being a Brachy species is not the easiest Paph to grow), you're probably on the right track!