Reprint: Growing the Rare Philippine Paphiopedilum Page 1

Growing the Rare Philippine Paphiopedilum

by Norby Bautista
September 10, 2014

One of the unique and beautiful Philippine Paphiopedilum orchid species is the Paphiopedilum
philippinense. This plant species was first described in 1892 by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach, a German
orchidologist.
The Paphiopedilum
philippinense is an orchid the
Philippines should be proud
of. It has a unique flower
feature; and that is its pouch-
like slipper and its very long
scarf-like petal. Generally,
Paphiopedilums are a favorite
of Americans and Europeans.
As its flower resembles the
mocassin slippers of the
primitive American Indians, it is
often called the Venus Slipper
or Lady Slipper orchid. Its
lower sepal and labellum is
fused together to form the
rounded slipper-like pouch. The orchid group belongs to the Cypripedioideae orchid subfamily. As a whole, the
genus Paphiopedilum comprises about 80 accepted taxa including several natural hybrids. The genus is native to
Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, Southern China, New Guinea and the Solomon and Bismarck Islands.
Paphiopedilum species and their hybrids are nowadays extensively cultivated around the world, and are known as
paphs as abbreviated in horticulture. We have about 14 local species here in the Philippines.

Because of their beauty, Paphiopedilums are highly collectible by orchid growers both local and
international; thus, they were classified as endangered plant species. With this, they are highly protected in the
Philippines from international trade, though it is sold locally during orchid and garden shows. Their habitat are
protected by the Philippine Wildlife Act and by CITES. It is one of the plant species being conserved and needs to be
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massed produced. One orchidologist before mention that Paphiopedilums are a favorite orchid flower among
orchidists as they have all the features of a unique flower, including bright colors, stripes, hairs, spots and even warts.
Paphiopedilum philippinense is found in northern Borneo and in the southern Philippine islands, particularly
in Guimaras, Negros, Augusan, Surigao del Norte, and some parts of Mindanao. The plant usually blooms from late
February to April with up to five flowers, about 22.5 cm wide flowers. In nature, the plants are usually found growing
in leaf mulch, mossy rocks, and on trees at elevations of 0 to 500 meters.
About its cultivation, this orchid
usually thrives in areas with bright light and
with cool to warm temperatures. Thus, when
growing these plants, it is best to situate them
in your garden exposed to bright diffused light
or in partial shade. They can be grown as an
indoor plant near a window or as a garden
plant. They are usually potted in a clay pot,
with a well drained mix of potting medium
composed of fir bark and perlite or sphagnum
moss. However, in local conditions, it is usually
planted in a medium composed of charcoal,
limestone or granite gravel, and topped with
chopped coconut husk.
The plant is advised to be watered
regularly once every four to five days or twice a
week. Bright light promotes flowering. Species
does not grow new roots quickly. It is not
recommended to put potted plants under the
orchid bench as it may rot. Space plants apart
and permit air movement or a gentle breeze of
wind. Paphiopedilums are susceptible to
fungal infection; thus it is recommended to
spray plants with fungicides like Dithane once
the rainy days come. The plants are also
susceptible to sucking insects like mites, aphids, thrips and sometimes caterpillars. For severed infestations, spray
orchids with a dilute solution of insecticide like Sevin or Lannate. Regularly fertilize orchids with a dilute solution of
orchid foliar fertilizers once each week, usually after watering to make plants strong and healthy.
After the plants are watered, they should be placed so that the pots do not stand in water. Some people like
to place the pots in a tray or saucer of gravel. This helps to insure that the base of the pot is not immersed in water
and provides some air circulation under the pot.
Paphiopedilums are propagated through division of plantlets or by production of seed pods and culturing
their seeds in the laboratory using orchid seed culture technology.
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The species have two varieties. One is the variety laevigatum wherein its sepals are white with red stripes,
while its petals are yellow with red and the lip is yellow. One the other hand, an albino or yellow variety is the variety
album which has white sepals and yellow stripes. Lip and petals are yellow.
The lady slipper
orchids, are actually easy to
grow, though not for beginners.
Growers are rewarded with
flowers if a few simple principles
of culture are followed. First, and
most important, the potting
medium should not be allowed to
become stale. Paphiopedilums
like to be put in fresh potting
medium at least once a year.
The key to growing
paphiopedilums is to keep a
good root system, as the plants
have no bulbs or stems in which
to store moisture or nutrients,
compared to other orchids.
Potting in a proper medium is
necessary to maintain healthy
roots. Once the potting medium
starts to rot, it has to be replaced
with a new one, or else the plant
also rots. Another is to sparingly
water the plant, as too much
water will kill it. However, it has
to be situated in a moist part of
the garden.
In the future, Philippine Paphiopedilums may someday be used as a cut-flower, as it is now used in Europe
and in America. As more and more Filipinos will be growing this unique and beautiful plant, it may someday be as
common as any other garden plant, like that of the rose and the gumamela.