CULTURE (3)
Slipper Orchids
Lady’s slippers are some of the easiest orchids to grow and among the most rewarding orchids you’ll find, making them a great orchid for beginners. They present a wide range of strikingly colored, frequently glossy flowers in myriad shapes. Some have petals that are elegantly twisted, while others are marked with hairs and warts. All slipper orchids are noted for very-long-lasting blooms — the flowers usually last six to eight weeks. Many slipper orchids have gorgeous marbled foliage, which makes them stunningly beautiful, even when they aren’t in bloom. Collectors of slipper orchids tend to be a fanatic lot — and it’s easy to see why.
Lady's-slippers or Paphiopedilum grow best in bark media. The air humidity should be more than 60%, especially in the morning and in the evening otherwise, you risk the attraction of thrips and red spider mites. Studies keep repeating that Paphiopedilum like chalky soils. Photos and research projects in natural habitats show clearly the plants grow in humus nests on rocks and trees. Thesis, unlike the chalk rock have an acidic pH value, however, lady's slippers like calcium in the medium or in the fertiliser.
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