|
Guidelines for Growing Paphiopedilum Species of Subgenus Parvisepalum
|
|
By slipperfreak at 2008-10-10 04:21
|
My favorite part of orchid growing, which would then also be my favorite part of botany and horticulture as well, is the group of Paphiopedilum species known as the Parvisepalums. Many refer to these as the "Chinese" Paphs, or simply as "Parvis". They are native to tropical areas of China and Vietnam and are easily distinguished by their generally round, soft and colorful flowers, mottled leaves (although P. emersonii and P. hangianum have plain leaves), and compact size. Together with Brachypetalums (which are smaller plants having predominantly white flowers with variable spotting), these species most resemble the South American Phragmipediums and temperate Cypripediums. While they carry the drawback of short-lived flowers as compared to most other Paphs (averaging about 3 weeks), they make up for this with the quantity of flowers produced at maturity and the sheer stunning beauty they hold. They are among the few Paphs that can be called "pretty", and also among the few Paphs that are fragrant. Over the past 20 years or so a lot of breeding has been done with these plants and we have some amazing results, but this article is about the original species, which each have separate growing requirements. I have decided to write this article because of my passion for these plants, and the fact that many would like to grow them, but are confused or in the dark about how to do it. Let this article light the way for you.
Paph delenatii. This was the first of the Parvi species to be discovered and was originally placed in subgenus Brachypetalum. It wasn't until the other Parvis were found that this subgenus was erected. It is believed that originally three plants were brought back to Europe from Vietnam, one going to Kew and the other two to a nursery in France. Only one of the French plants survived and it was selfed. Over time the best offspring were selected out and line-bred. With this process, the original plants, which were supposedly slow-growing and difficult to bloom, have led to vigorous plants that are easy to flower. This plant was thought to be extinct until recently, when a new population was discovered in a different part of Vietnam. These plants have added more genes to the pool, as well. Apparantly this species once grew in China but has been extirpated from there. Modern clones are very easy to grow. You can grow this species the same as common Paphs like Maudiae hybrids - under low to moderate light and moderate moisture, and intermediate temperatures. All that is required for blooming is a drop in temperature at night (which is a must for any orchid). While it is tolerant of hard water, it will grow better in pure water. Paph delenatii will often produce two or even three flowers per spike that can be sweetly fragrant. The flowers are iconic; they have a pink pouch and white tepals, which under certain lighting can appear light pink due to their pink backsides.
Paph armeniacum. Being the only PURE, bright yellow Paph species, this one is really special. The flower shape is very similar to Paph delenatii, but with a slightly larger pouch. This species is known as being easy to keep alive, and difficult to flower. The key is to raise light levels in the winter while decreasing temperatures, and just slightly reducing water. It is a cool to intermediate grower. This plant is well-known for its stoloniferous growth habit, meaning that it produces long runners. Many growers grow it in hanging baskets to accommodate the growth, while others grow in wide shallow pots. If you grow in a normal pot, it will quickly be overcrowded by runners and you may get some hanging over the edge of the pot. You can cut the runners off once they develop their own root system, with several roots each a couple inches long. They can then be potted separately. This has been known as both a slow and a fast grower - it depends on the clone!
Paph micranthum. This is currently my favorite Paph species I think, although it is hard to choose a favorite! It is an infamous misnomer - the word "micranthum" means "small-flower", yet this species has some of the largest flowers in the genus (definately the largest pouch)! The distinctive flowers have an enormous pink pouch with proportinately small tepals of a deeper color with red and yellow veining. It is a very compact plant which has narrow leaves similar to those of Paph armeniacum. They are characteristically rough-textured due to microscopic, protruding appendages that protect the leaf surface from frost, which can sometimes occur during the winter in this plant's native habitat. This is another species that is typically regarded as easy to grow but difficult to flower. For this one you should increase light and decrease tempuratures, but keep moisture constant, during the winter. High humidity at all times is helpful. This can be difficult to do but it is not impossible. Constant air movement is essential to prevent rot. Some clones are easier to bloom than others, but most are slow-growing and may take long breaks between flowering. Another cool to intermediate grower, and it can sometimes produce runners.
Paph malipoense. This great Sino-Vietnamese species has gorgeous, gargantuan flowers in a refeshing avocado green color, with purple veining on the tepals, and stipling on the inside of the pouch that gives it a faint spotted look. Often the pouch will have an unreal greyish tint to it. It is well-known for its fragrance, which is either pine or raspberry scented, apparently depending on the person who smells it. It is also well-lnown for its very tall flower spikes, which can approach three feet in height. Unfortunately this great height takes a long time to attain, and as such the species has garnered a reputation for taking FOREVER to open flower buds. Flowering the plant is not too difficult, but buds will often blast if conditions are not kept constant, which can be challenging to do for such a long time. You must pay very close attention to the plant while it is in spike, in my experience. It should be given a cooler and drier rest period in the winter. It is a cool to intermediate grower. As well, it is usually slow-growing, but sometimes produces runners.
Paph emersonii. Together with Paph hangianum this species is a little irregular among the Parvis because of its plain green leaves. Some taxonomists place these two species in their own section but officially they belong with the Parvis. Paph emersonii looks quite similar to Paph delenatii in terms of flower shape, but the flowers are a bit bigger, and the pouch is a pale yellow color with faint darker spots. It has white tepals, like delenatii. As well the flowers are typically less rounded and the tepals are narrower. Some clones are fragrant. This is known as a difficult plant to flower. It is an intermediate grower and requires moderate light, but with higher light in the winter, cooler temperatures, and less water.
Paph jackii. This species is considered by some to be a variety of Paph malipoense; however, Koopowitz considers it a separate species and I agree as it looks radically different from Paph malipoense to me. The flowers are a darker green and have much narrower tepals. It grows the same as Paph malipoense.
Paph vietnamense. This spectacular species is closely allied to Paph delenatii and for me is rivaled only by Paph micranthum in terms of beauty (although there is huge variation in the quality of clones). It was recently discovered in Vietnam and is likely extinct in the wild already. Legal plants are just becoming available in North America now, and are still hard to find and expensive (although most of the plants in this group are like this to some extent). It looks like Paph delenatii but has larger flowers that are typically a solid, rich pink throughout with a darker pouch, but sometimes white can be present on the pouch and/or tepals. The best clones are very rounded, while "lesser" (though to me still awesome) clones look somewhat like puppy dogs with their more narrow, drooping petals. Fortunately these are easy to grow and can be grown under the same conditions as Paph delenatii.
Paph hangianum. Unfortunately little is known about the cultivation of this very new Vietnamese species, which is closely related to Paph emersonii. For now we can assume that it grows under similar conditions to Paph emersonii. As I am currently growing a seedling of this species, I will update this section as I find out more. In terms of appearance it just might be the largest-flowered member of this group, with flowers 6 inches or more across. It looks like Paph emersonii but has red veining in the tepals and on the rim of the pouch. It is rumored that it has a "kitty litter" fragrance, though I have also heard that it has a sweet fragrance.
I hope this article aided you on your journey in growing Parvis. I am going to be updating the article periodically as I discover more about these plants through my own practices and through discussion with others, particularly with the newer species Paph vietnamense, Paph jackii and Paph hangianum. I will also be adding photos eventually.
Joseph Gadbois
|
|
|
|
|
Latest poll
|
What is your favorite orchid alliance? (According to how OB has them divided)
| Bulbophyllum Alliance |
   | 1 |
| Catasetum and Stanhopea Alliance |
   | 3 |
| Cattleya Alliance |
   | 17 |
| Coelogyne Alliance |
   | 1 |
| Cypripedium Alliance - Paphiopedilum |
   | 6 |
| Cypripedium Alliance - others |
   | 2 |
| Cymbidium Alliance |
| 3 |
| Dendrobium Alliance |
| 12 |
| Maxillaria Alliance |
| 1 |
| Oncidium/Odontoglossum Alliance |
| 13 |
| Phalaenopsis Alliance |
| 19 |
| Pleurothallis Alliance |
| 6 |
| Vanda Alliance - Neofinetia |
| 4 |
| Vanda Alliance - Angraecum/Aerangis |
| 2 |
| Vanda Alliance - others |
| 6 |
| Miscellaneous & Other Genera |
| 4 |
|
|
Who's online
|
There are currently 20 users and 200 guests online.Online users- OrchidSeer
- PlantTeeth
- Andrew
- orchidsarefun
- Monique.rbld
- Ordphien
- Bubbach
- addisonangela
- gladwrap
- PaphMadMan
|
|
Recent Threads
|
|
|
Navigation
|
|
|
|
Forum Sponsor
|
|
|
|
Forums