Multifloral Paphiopedilums: Special Orchids Worth the Wait

by George Titterton

Paphiopedilum Michael Koopowitz ‘Lubins Joy’ HCC/AOS

Photo courtesy of George Titterton

Paphiopedilums are commonly known as lady slipper orchids. Look at a photo and you will see why. There are many different types of lady slippers. They grow all over the world. Some are terrestrial and grow in our northern woodlands and prairies. Another family of lady slippers are the Phragmipediums. These are new world orchids and grow in Central and Southern America. Phragmipediums are a completely different type of orchid with different growing conditions. By looking at the flower shape you can see why they are grouped together by this common name lady slippers. There are other types of Paphiopedilums but this article is specifically about multifloral paphiopedilums.

They are slow growing, and not often seen. Multifloral Paphiopedilums can take years to grow to maturity. Be prepared to wait eight to ten years for a small seedling to grow large enough to bloom. Multifloral refers to more than one flower on a single inflorescence at the same time. Some Paphiopedilums are consecutive bloomers and will send out another flower after one drops off. They can keep blooming on one stem for a very long time, possibly years.

Multifloral Paphiopedilums grow on limestone cliffs and are found in tropical warm growing environments. They have long narrow leaves. Due to this characteristic they have been referred to as strap leafed varieties. Some varieties can have leaves 2-2 1/2 feet long.

These exotic beauties are native to the South Pacific. The Philippines, Borneo, and other parts of Indonesia are where these orchids can be found.

Multifloral Paphiopedilums are unusually shaped, notoriously slow growing and not often seen. There are several species which are most important to recognize for hybridizing:

Paphiopedilum philippinese is a beauty that can be found in the Philippines. The Dorsal is striped vertically. The pouch is a bright yellow and the side petals are darker brown in color, and hang down to the sides. One particular variety, Paphiopedilum philippinese var. roebelenii has long twisted petals that hang down on the sides. The side petals can reach 10”.

Paphiopedilum rothschildianum is considered the king of this genus. When you are lucky enough to see a well grown specimen, a single inflorescence can present up to six flowers. These flowers can possibly reach 12” across. The flower spikes can be 2’ tall. The striped pattern on the dorsal and the lower sepal are lined with dark brown or red brown longitudinal stripes on a creamy light or pale yellow field. The pouch is typically a dark mahogany.

Paphiopeilum sanderianum is the queen of this genus in my opinion. This species was discovered and then lost for nearly a century. It was rediscover on the island of Borneo in the late 70’s. They grow on cliffs with their extraordinary long petals hanging in the wind. Their incredible long side petals can reach up to 36” in length. You can imagine how excited the orchid world was when they were rediscovered and no longer just a phantom discussed in old orchid documents.

Paphiopedilum stoneii is another exceptional species. It has been used widely for hybridizing. The flower spikes are taller and can have 2-4 flowers. The flowers are more flattened and have a bone white pointed dorsal with a few dark purple brown streaks. The purple pouch juts forward and the dorsal hangs over it. These flowers are a bit brighter and different from the earthier colors of the other varieties. It’s a personal favorite of mine.

When growing these wonderful orchids, I have found they like good light. LED lights work very well and are set on timers to follow the length of day provided by mother nature. I grow them in a mix of fine and medium pine bark, sphagnum moss, perlite, and charcoal. On top this mix I also add some oyster shell chicken grit. I feed my paphiopedilums most weekends. They get a mix of Dyna-gro and SuperThrive. They appreciate regular watering and a slight drying out between waterings. I use plastic pots to retain moisture. Additionally, I have the pots sitting on humidity trays. My collection of multi florals stays indoors as I want to control their exposure to nature’s pests. I have found they like to have good air movement. Windows open in the summer and fall to provide a nice temperature change.