What Paphs are good for beginners? - Orchid Board

KHaze · #1 05-09-2010, 08:38 PM

Hi everyone! I've been thinking of getting a paph but I need to get one that is good for a beginner.

I've read that paphs with solid green leaves can only be grown in a green house. Is that true?

I need to get one that tolerates filtered light and has no scent and can be grown in my house

Any suggestions ?

Also...we have no growers in this area so I'm going to have to order from someone. Can you suggest a reputable grower?

And one more thing...Has any of you tried to grow a paph in semi hydro?

Thanks for any help you can give me!

slipperfreak · #2 05-09-2010, 09:53 PM

You DO NOT have to have a greenhouse to grow strap-leaved (plain green) Paphs.

Check out this link:

Paphiopedilum & Phragmipedium Intro Page - AnTec Laboratory

There you will find tons of great info on Paphs and a list of good beginners Paphs. It's a little outdated, but a good start.

RosieC · #3 05-10-2010, 08:48 AM

I'm growing a strap leaf (plain green) paph on my bathroom window ledge.

To be honest it's not reflowered yet, but it does have 5 actively growing fans (spotted a new leaf only this morning) so I think it's reasonably happy.

Oh, and I think they are quite good for beginners. I got my first one when I was just starting with orchids.

KHaze · #4 05-12-2010, 07:45 PM

Hi! Sorry, I posted this the other day and then didn't have time to check it! Should have waited until I was less busy.

Thank you both! I'm glad to hear that strap leaf paphs can be grown in the house.

Thanks for the link Joe.

I can see that there is a lot of info on that site. It should be very helpful!

Rosie...actively growing fans...are those the leaves? If so, why do they call them fans? Does it have to do with their growth pattern? I'm psyched that you think they are good for beginners because I'm definitely that!

Do either of you ever buy orchids on line? I don't know what places are trust worthy.

johnblagg · #5 05-12-2010, 07:54 PM

A fan is the new growth and will have a several alternating leaves opposite to each other in alternation one in one direction then one the other direction it is indde the growth pattern .....basicly the same way a phal grows but Paph leaves of course.....I am still working on my first paph too and ity is amazing how tough it has been for me to kill it has had a couple of daisaters and recovered each time so I would say they have to be pretty tough in general for it to survive me so far ....

The green leaved ones are commonly called strap leaved and can take more light than the mottled leaved which I believe are called maudaie types.Not sure if all mottled type are Maudaie or not?Can anyone clarify that ?

slipperfreak · #6 05-13-2010, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnblagg

The green leaved ones are commonly called strap leaved and can take more light than the mottles leaved which I believe are called maudi types.Not sure if all mottled type are Maudi or not?Can anyone clarify that ?

Not all mottled leaved Paphs are Maudiae types. There are also Parvisepalums and Brachypetalums (species and hybrids). There are also the Paph species that are in the ancestry of the Maudiae types - callosum, lawrenceanum, barbatum, etc.

johnblagg · #7 05-13-2010, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slipperfreak

Not all mottled leaved Paphs are Maudiae types. There are also Parvisepalums and Brachypetalums (species and hybrids). There are also the Paph species that are in the ancestry of the Maudiae types - callosum, lawrenceanum, barbatum, etc.

Thank you!!! I was not sure at all on that and did not want to misinform someone.

billc · #8 05-13-2010, 09:13 AM

Hi Karen, How far upstate are you? Piping Rock Orchids is in Galway and Bloomfield Orchids somewhere near Rochester.

Bill

RosieC · #9 05-13-2010, 03:21 PM

As Joe has said, not all mottled leaf Paphs are Maudiae types. Maudiae is a particular hybrid and generally the term Maudiae type refers to a closely related Paph. There are often NoID's which look much like the Maiudiae hybrid and are refered to as Maudiae type.

I think that some sites sell orchids which are labled as Maudiae but which are actually just similar hybrids. I think this because one site I know of sells a multi-floral Maudiae as well as the standard single flowered one. I may be missing something, but I think the multi-floral must have something else in it's parantage to add that characteristic.

RosieC · #10 05-13-2010, 03:26 PM

As John has already said, the fan is the shape the leaves form. Paphs (unlike Phals) can form multiple growths at once, so when I refered to it growing multiple fans I basically mean that it is growing from lots of points, each growth point forming it's own fan.

As for your question about buying online... I do, but I'm in the UK so I can't really advise you to buy from the ones I do. I've heard 'Oak Hill' and 'Andys Orchids' both mentioned as good ones in the USA, but obviously haven't tried them myself.