The Shaggy Paphiopedilum is native to Northeast India and Myanmar. Plants are found in the regions of Mizoram (former Assam), Nagaland and Manipur, near the border with Burma in the Naga and Lushai mountains at heights of 700-1200 m. Some other varieties of this species are found in northern Thailand, Laos and Vietnam as well as southwestern China.
Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum orchid, also called as The Shaggy Paphiopedilum, Cordula hirsutissima, Cypripedium hirsutissimum, Paphiopedilum chiwuanum, Paphiopedilum esquirolei var. chiwuanum, Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum f. alboviride, Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum f. viride, Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum var. chiwuanum, is a species of the genus Paphiopedilum. This species was described by (Lindl. ex Hook. f.) Pfitzer in 1892.
IDENTIFY PAPHIOPEDILUM HIRSUTISSIMUM ORCHID
The Shaggy Paphiopedilum is native to Northeast India and Myanmar. Plants are found in the regions of Mizoram (former Assam), Nagaland and Manipur, near the border with Burma in the Naga and Lushai mountains at heights of 700-1200 m. Some other varieties of this species are found in northern Thailand, Laos and Vietnam as well as southwestern China. Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum can be found growing in a thick layer of humus next to tree trunks, on rocks covered with moss and along the walls of the cliffs; but their favorite habitat is the hollows of branches of trees, where thick moss grows and rotting leaves gather.
This species is a medium-sized, warm to cool growing terrestrial or lithophytic species, up to 45 cm high, that has 5 to 7, distichous, linear-oblong to linear-ligulate, obtuse at the obliquely bilobed apex, clear green, spotted purple beneath leaves. The leaves are 16-45 cm long and 1.5-3.0 cm wide.
This plant blooms in the spring with a long-lasting, 12" (30 cm) long, single flowered, densely pubescent inflorescence that is green and has dark purple hairs and an elliptic floral bract that is 1/4 the length of the ovary. It is a large flower, 10-15 cm tall and all parts are covered with hairs. Upper sepals are pale yellow or pale green in color. Its lower part and middle are covered with shiny dark black and purple patches, and the wide border on the edge is pale yellow, light green or dark green. It is wide-hearted to an elliptical, with a convex vein on the outside, with wavy and pubescent margins. Lower sepals look like the upper, but smaller, ovoid, pale green with purple specks along the veins. The petals are shaped like a scapula, horizontally extended or slightly tilted forward and twisted. At the base they are narrow, green or pale yellow, covered with dark purple specks and blackish hairs. The edges of the petals from the base to the middle are corrugated. The broad apical part of the petals is bright-violet with a rounded apex. The helmet-like lip is colored in colors from dark green to light green or pale yellow and strewn with pink-purple specks and tiny black warts.
GROW AND CARE PAPHIOPEDILUM HIRSUTISSIMUM 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:
This species need a light level of 18000-25000 lux. Strong air movement should be ensured all the time.
Temperature:
The plant is thermophilic in summer and relatively cold-loving in winter. In summer, the average day temperature is 27-28 ° C, at night 20-21 ° C, with a daily amplitude of 12-13 ° C. In winter, the average daytime temperatures are 21-22 ° C, and the night 4-7 ° C, with a daily amplitude of 15-17 ° C.
Humidity:
The humidity is 80-85% in summer and at the beginning of autumn, in the autumn it drops to about 75%, and then further decreases to even 50% for 1-2 months of late winter and early spring.
Substrate and growing media:
You can use any loose and well conductive water substrate, which retains part of the moisture, but does not absorb. The accumulation of mineral salts in the pot should be prevented.
Watering:
In the summer and in the beginning of autumn the plant should be watered abundantly, paying attention to the fact that the substrate does not soak and damp. In the fall, watering should be gradually reduced.
Fertilizer:
Plants should be fertilized every week 1/10-1/4 of the recommended dose of fertilizer for orchids. In the period of active growth, a fertilizer with a high nitrogen content is usually used, and from the second half of the summer switch to a fertilizer with a high phosphorus content, which promotes better flowering and helps new growth to reach maturity before the onset of winter.
Rest period and repotting:
The amount of water should be reduced to the cultivated plants in the period of 3 winter months, so that they are practically dry for 1-2 months and can only be mistaken from time to time. However, the amount of water supplied should be increased if the plants start showing signs of weakness. Fertilization should be stopped until more intense watering starts in the spring. Dry resting period is necessary to induce flowering. Keep the temperature around 4 ° C in December and stop watering for 30-40 days, only occasionally misting the plants, so that they can be kept in good condition.
Plants should be repotted before the substrate breaks down and before it ceases to be well-drained, usually every two years. Repotting should be carried out immediately after flowering. If it needs to be done in the summer, the plants should be kept in the shade and in the cold until they adapt again.
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