The Charlesworth Paphiopedilum is native to Assam India, Myanmar, Thailand, and southwestern China. In Myanmar, it meets in the state of Shan near the border with Thailand and China. Moore, the first discoverer of these orchids, reported that these plants were 40 km south-west and 64 km north of Lake Inle. They grew there on high, steep, single peaks, usually on western or northwestern slopes at heights of 1200-1600 m. They were usually found in shade, with roots strongly attached to the rocks, but sometimes they were also found growing in more exposed positions in gaps, naked rocks.
Paphiopedilum charlesworthii orchid, also called as The Charlesworth Paphiopedilum, Cordula charlesworthii, Cypripedium charlesworthii, Cypripedium crawshayae, Paphiopedilum charlesworthii f. crawshayae, Paphiopedilum charlesworthii f. sandowiae, is a species of the genus Paphiopedilum. This species was first described by (Rolfe) Pfitzer in 1895.
IDENTIFY PAPHIOPEDILUM CHARLESWORTHII ORCHID
The Charlesworth Paphiopedilum is native to Assam India, Myanmar, Thailand, and southwestern China. In Myanmar, it meets in the state of Shan near the border with Thailand and China. Moore, the first discoverer of these orchids, reported that these plants were 40 km south-west and 64 km north of Lake Inle. They grew there on high, steep, single peaks, usually on western or northwestern slopes at heights of 1200-1600 m. They were usually found in shade, with roots strongly attached to the rocks, but sometimes they were also found growing in more exposed positions in gaps, naked rocks.
This species is a medium sized, up to 25 cm, cool growing epiphyte, that has linear, clear green leaves (20-25 cm long) with purple spots below near the base and on the underside. It blooms in the late summer and fall on a single flowered , pubescent, terminal, erect, to 10" (25 cm) long inflorescence covered with reddish spots and having obovate floral bracts that cover 2/3 of the ovary and carrying a single, long-lasting flower.
These flowers, with a diameter of up to 8 cm, are permanent and will last longer if during flowering the plants will be in a cooler and shaded place. Almost a round ridge petal is pink-red with darker veins spreading from the base. The much smaller, elliptical lower petal is marked with bright yellow spots and bright purple veins. His underside is covered with short hairs. The inner whorls are basically horizontally spread and slightly curved, greenish-brown with dark green veins. The shape of the inverted helmet is pinkish-brown with darker veins.
GROW AND CARE PAPHIOPEDILUM CHARLESWORTHII ORCHID
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
The plant needs a light source of 18000-25000 lux. They grow better with relatively bright but diffused light and high air movement.
Winter and spring are the seasons when the most cloudless days are in the habitats of these plants. You should then provide the planted plants with the maximum possible dose of light, just to not burn the leaves.
Temperature:
In summer, the average daytime temperatures are 24-25 ° C and the night 18 ° C, with an amplitude of 6-7 ° C. In spring, the average day temperature is 27-29 ° C, night 16-17 ° C, with a daily amplitude of 13-18 ° C. The average winter temperature is 22-24 ° C at night, 7-8 ° C at night, with a daily difference of 13-16 ° C.
Humidity:
Paphiopedilum charlesworthii orchid need the humidity of 80-85% from summer to autumn, and decreases to 50-55% in winter and spring.
Substrate and growing media:
The substrate should be airy and permeable, but able to retain a certain amount of water. A substrate consisting of fine or medium-grained pieces of pine bark mixed with perlite or other moisture-retaining additives is good. The cut pieces of sphagnum moss are often added to the ground, especially in the drier places of cultivation with low humidity.
The plants can grow in plastic pots. It is recommend to improving drainage by enlarging existing holes and making additional ones. This is easily done by firing additional holes with the soldering iron.
To avoid the accumulation of mineral deposits during periods of strong fertilization, it is recommended to rinse the substrate every few weeks. Rinsing is particularly important where the water is highly mineralized. First, normally, the plant should be watered to dissolve the accumulated salts, and after about an hour, rinse the substrate with water equal to twice the volume of the container.
Watering:
Plants in cultivation should be intensively watered from spring to early autumn, with only slight drying of the substrate between subsequent waterings. However, do not allow the substrate to become stale or soaked. In late autumn, watering should be gradually reduced.
In cultivation you can not refrain from watering plants in winter, but they should be very limited. Cultivated plants should be lightly watered every two weeks, and in the meantime occasionally be sprayed in the early morning. Watering is most beneficial during longer periods of bright, sunny weather. Plants should be kept in slightly drier conditions for about 1-2 months at the end of winter or early spring. They can then dry between waterings, but they can not stay dry for too long.
Fertilizer:
During active growth, the plants should be fertilized every week or every two weeks with 1/4-1/2 of the recommended dose of fertilizer for orchids. A fertilizer with a higher nitrogen content, e.g. 30-10-10, is recommended if the plants are planted in bark medium. You can also using fertilizers with less nitrogen and higher phosphorus in the autumn, which stimulates plants to flower in the next season and allows new growth before the period of drought.
In winter, fertilization should then be reduced or even completely eliminated until more watering is resumed in spring.
Rest period and repotting:
That plants seem to be quite indifferent to the length of winter rest, and there is no required minimum temperature. It is important that the night temperatures in winter are lower than the summer temperatures by about 11 ° C.
Plants can be repotted at different times of the year, but it is best done in early spring, which allows you to regain full form and root out before the summer. After repotting, the base of the plant should be approximately 2.5 cm below the edge of the container and 1.3 cm below the surface of the substrate. If the substrate falls down and the root ball appears, it is necessary to sprinkle a little more substrate to cover it, to protect the newly created increments. Plants should be repotted before the substrate begins to decompose. This is usually done in winter or spring after flowering.
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