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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 philippinenseis 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 growingin 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 mediumcomposed 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 theorchid 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 liketo 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 togrow, 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.