Sanderianum
 

Hello everybody,

I recently bought paph. sanderianum for I dreamed about it since the first moment I saw it.:drool: It is a nice tiny seedling with a 5'' leaf span. I must confess though, that I don't have lots of experience with this variety -- not that I don't have experience with paphiopedilums, it's just this one that I don't know how to grow. I've heard people say sanderianums are very difficult to grow, but some say the opposite. I'm totally confused. If anyone has any experience with this specie, please advise on how to grow it. If you know any website, culture/care sheets that would also help a lot.

PS: after what time approx. should it bloom?

Thank you:)

I have a hybrid Paph Michael Koopowitz and I found that humidity is most important to help it grow.

I heard people say that in summer they like high temps and grow fast outside.

I am growing mine in just a bit higher than phal light and in the stream of my evaporative cooler. It has grown a bit over an inch in a month. Humidity varies from high thirties to mid sixties but mostly stays around 50.

Oh, mine is about 9 inch span and I was told 4-5 years to bloom. I would suggest 7 to 9 years for yours.

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

7 to 9 years!!! :dumb: Huuhhh... Hopefully my grandchildren will take of it :lol: And this prediction works only if it won't die, get some fungus or disease and will grow at a rate of 1 inch a month... :_( Maybe after 2-3 years I would rather collect money to buy a BS of this paph. By the way, how much does the BS sanderianum cost? :drool:

In the hundreds or thousands.... blooming sized ones aren't offered for sale often.

We discussed this at Slippertalk and I'll link you to the thread:)
Paph. sanderanium question - Slippertalk.com - Slipper Orchid Forum for Paphs, Phrags other slipper orchids

That is true. I have only seen one commercial grower that offers sand at all stages of growth (NBS and BS at $500 ea and up) and one private party that offerred a NBS one for a reasonable price. I hesitated too long and it went to someone else.

Smartie2000, thanks for the link, was very interesting.

I have two seedlings that have about a 10"+ leaf span. I grow them moist (CHC, perlite and sphag), warm and fairly close to a 400 watt MH light. They grow slowly but not as slow as others I've seen.

Sorry, I haven't had much luck with sanderianum. While its hybrids are frequently vigorous, sand itself is slow as you-know-what. They grow slowly, and then (for me) just die. I have been able to bloom out sand crosses, but sand itself.....nowhere. Take care, Eric

I'm so sorry... :( I hope mine won't die...:angry: I've never seen a blooming sanderianum, only from pictures. I REALLY REALLY want to see it blooming at least once in my life! :nod:

Keep it warm. Also this plant appreciates high humidity and good fresh air circulation. I have one but it is also small and just recovering from the terrible disease. One not good person kept it for a while in the refrigerator for the cutted flowers. And the poor plant was between life and death for a while. :_(

Shadow,

Thanks for recommendations, I'll try my best. Is morning light okay for this paph? I have a window facing east with sunny bright light till afternoon.:hmm

My only concern is about watering... I just overwatered one paph and paid for it with its roots:_(

East facing window is just right, because this paph is growing on east facing slopes. I like to keep all my plants in clear plastic pots, so I can see amount of condensation inside. It helps me not to overwater and not to keep too dry.

morning sun is perfect

Guess I won't be getting one :( my grandson would kill it for sure . Good luck with it :clap: Gin

If you are interested in my little experiment to determine growth rate you can look here:

sanderianum leaf growth progress - Slippertalk.com - Slipper Orchid Forum for Paphs, Phrags other slipper orchids

The attached picture shows how I grow mine. The sand. is in the upper case near the front. I have an evaporative humidifier that sits on the floor and blows right up past it. The humidity in the area varies between about 40 and 70% depending on time of day and if I can control the window and door air flow for the room. The humidifier gets turned off at night because my teenage son does not appreciate the sound!!!

Thanks, Steven,

Your experiment was really interesting. I wondered only if the marks from a marker ok on the leaves (does it not contain alcohol?) I liked your plants, so many orchids!! Ooh! One was even flowering, was it a phrag? Very nice sand as well. Mine is much smaller. Thanks for sharing a picture.
I also have almost same conditions: my orchids grow in the bathroom with east facing window, so light is not too bad, plus I put a humidifier in there to maintain a high humidity (55% on average) but I also turn it off at night cause it's too loud. So, hopefully, sand won't complain.

Yes, phrag bessae.

I forgot to post the other pic that shows the other growing shelf that I had just finished modifying. Lots of stuff blooming there too! :drool:

Wow! :drool: Steven, you are a wonderful grower! :clap:

so many orchids!!! :shock: I only have about ten or so, how do you keep track of when and what to water? I liked a red phal with one flower, it looked beautiful :blushing: Could you take a closer picture of slippers, please? I love them! :banana:

Beautiful collection, thanks for sharing!! :cheer:

Steven, you have very nice growing area. I hope one day I will finish mines.

Thanks, I have a lot, but it cost a lot too. Most of my plants are species paphs and primary hybrids.

Didn't mean to hijack!!!!

I'll see what I can do about posting some paph pics in the correct space.