Paph delenatii x micranthum

[mauraec]

Thanking you for your time and efforts, Mr. Dorsetman - your expositions on the subject are generally more readable and to the point than the myriad "official" resources so readily available. Curiosity - which conditions, exactly, suited the rapid flowering out of a primary Barbata hybrid - and should I avoid them if I want to see my delenatii flower some time during my lifetime?

The following is an unidentified paph (or phrag, or whatever - you tell me) that was in the orchid conservatory this weekend. This is a single bloom, but these grew in multiple inflorescences the size of small bushes.

[Dorsetman]

Phrag.

Barbata - temp range 12-25 ( C) day- the higher end, night lower, ditto summer/ winter ) Like winter night 12, day 17, summer say 15 night night 25 day.
If only ! Few of us manage that !,
They grow in light woodland, on the edges of clumps of trees - so light dapp[led shade, Oftem moist, never dry.
Good luck !

[mauraec]

Thought so (phrag, I mean). I think they appeal to me more than paphs, to be honest, but one thing (or a hundred) at a time.... I've developed a definite distaste for cattleyas and phals - couldn't say why, except that they seem rather common (in all the senses of that word) to me - a trait that one would think is out of line with the growing of orchids altogether.

I have great hopes still for my heroic cym, which has weathered repotting beautifully, old pseudobulbs dying gracefully and with dignity, new growth rocketing upwards, staying the proper color of grass-green, and developing fan-like bases. It will, of course, only be tested when I'm able to give it the cool nights we have here in October or so, but it's a lovely plant even without blooms.

[Dorsetman]

Phallies ? I call them shop orchids -like my old mum used to say "shop cake"- meaning factory made, a poor substitute for the real thing - never seen on a proper table ....but that was another age...
Mind you , species phallies are another thing altogether - I have a friend here who shows the most beautiful plants - but he grows them far warmer than I can manage - with winter night temperatures nearer 20 . Great, but not if you have a large greenhouse in a cool climate, unless you have a private oil well or private income.

[PaphMadMan]

I'm not familiar with parvisepalums at all - any photos? Is is a subspecies of paph? I see the reference to the delenatii as one, but I'm still confused about the family relationships.

Parvisepalum is a sugenus of Paphiopedilum, including the species armeniacum, delenatii, emersonii, hangianum, malipoense, micranthum and vietnamense as well as delenatii. Pictures off all of them should be easy to find with an internet inage search.

[PaphMadMan]

Kirk/Geoff,

Are parvisepalums extremely slow growers? I'm staring at my Joyce Hasegawa right now

Parvisepalums may not usually be as vigorous as Maudie types, and they do need somewhat different care (see what I said about delenatii), but they aren't necessarily slow if you give them what they want. The delenatii hybrids like Joyce Hasegawa are the best place to start. Some of the species, like armeniacum and micranthum, can be a bit more finnicky.