Paphiopedilum bellatulum is found from southeastern Yunnan, Guizhou and southern Guangxi of China to Indochina. It is also found in Myanmar and Thailand. Its natural habitat is the cracks in the limestone rocks, filled with fallen leaves and other organic material, where the orchid grows in the shade of the trees at an altitude of 500-1600 meters...
Paphiopedilum bellatulum also called as The egg-in-a-nest orchid, The Enchanting Paphiopedilum, Cordula bellatula, Cypripedium bellatulum, Paphiopedilum bellatulum f. album, Paphiopedilum bellatulum var. album, is a species of the genus Paphiopedilum. This species was described by Berthold Stein in 1895.
IDENTIFY PAPHIOPEDILUM BELLATULUM
Paphiopedilum bellatulum is found from southeastern Yunnan, Guizhou and southern Guangxi of China to Indochina. It is also found in Myanmar and Thailand. Its natural habitat is the cracks in the limestone rocks, filled with fallen leaves and other organic material, where the orchid grows in the shade of the trees at an altitude of 500-1600 meters.
The egg-in-a-nest orchid is a small sized, hot to cool growing terrestrial species with 4 to 5, oblong, elliptic, rounded and minutely emarginated apically, mottled dark and pale green, up to 14 cm long, 5 cm wide leaves that are purple spotted below.
The Enchanting Paphiopedilum flowers in the spring and summer from a short, pubescent, dark purple inflorescence with a floral bract that is half as long as the ovary arising from the top center of the leaves and just clears or touches the leaves. The flowers are 6 cm in diameter.
PAPHIOPEDILUM BELLATULUM CARE AND CULTURE
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:
Paphiopedilum bellatulum grows in fairly shady environments, since even in cultivation requires very moderate light: 10000-14000 lux. The ideal photoperiod is 11-12 hours.
Temperature:
This species have a distinct period of winter rest (December-January, up to the appearance of the inflorescences), during which temperatures must be 17-19 ° C during the day and 12-13 ° C at night. In the rest of the year the ideal temperatures are 22-24 ° C during the day and 17-19 ° C at night.
Humidity:
The egg-in-a-nest orchid with the humidity of 55-60% are sufficient for its harmonious development.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Paphiopedilum bellatulum is a semi-terrestrial species, and is grown only in pots. The pH of the substrate is very important: in nature, this orchid grows in fairly calcareous substrates, so the ideal pH should be 6.5-7.5. To raise it we can add crushed shells / sand or coral gravel to medium-sized pine bark (2-4 cm). The substrate must cover all the roots, even where they are connected to the base of the rosette, but it must not go further. Frequent repotting will be useful, every 1-1.5 years, to guarantee the right pH of the substrate. Keep in mind that this species does not like changes in its position. If we move it often, it gets very stressed and can even throw down flowers and leaves. It is not recommended to place this orchid outdoors, because it prefers more stable environments with regard to temperature and humidity.
Watering:
During the period of growth (from mid-February to November) this species gets water regularly, when the substrate has dried well but is not yet completely dry.
Fertilizer:
This species is fertilized every 3-4 watering with 1/2 - 1/3 of the dose reported on the vial of a special liquid fertilizer for orchids. The fertilizations take place only during the growth period and are completely suspended during the resting phase.
Rest period:
The blooms of Paphiopedilum bellatulum are induced by the rest period. In December-January this orchid spends the rest period, characterized by lower temperatures and much smaller quantities of water. The watering in this period is substituted with the medium-light vaporizations of the upper part of the substratum which are carried out every 4-5 days. The rest period ends with the arrival of the inflorescences that appear in the center of the newly matured rosettes.
Can this orchid grow and flower in warm condition like here in the Philippines?
ReplyDelete