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“Paphs” are among the easiest orchids to grow in the home or greenhouse. They are East Asian and South American relatives of our Minnesota State Flower! BLOOMING: There is a lot of variation in the blooming habits of paphs. Most will bloom once a year, with some of the mottled leaf varieties twice a year. Some varieties will bloom one flower per growth and others multiple flowers. Flowers should stay open for 4-6 weeks or longer if not exposed to excessive heat or cold, or have their pollen removed.

LIGHT: Paphs prefer shaded conditions, such as indirect light from an east window or a curtained south window in the home, or heavy shaded in the greenhouse.
WATERING: Since paphs are semi-terrestrial, they need to be watered just as the media is about to dry out. In the home, this is probably about every 5-7 days. A good tip is to pull the pot label and feel if it is dry toward the top yet moist a couple inches down. It is always best to water in the morning so the foliage can be dry by evening.
Humidity: The humidity for paphs should be moderate, between 40% and 50%, which can be maintained in the home by setting the plants on trays of gravel, partially filled with water, so the plants never sit in water.

TEMPERATURE: The mottled leaf varieties like a little cooler conditions than the solid green leaf varieties. Both will like day temperatures around 80 degrees, with night temperatures for the mottled about 55 degrees and the solid about 60 degrees.

FERTILIZER: We recommend the new Jack's Classic Liquid Orchid Foods with Micro and Macronutrients, plus Calcium and Magnesium. There is a general formulation (7-5-6) and a bloom booster (3-9-6). Use a weak solution (1/2 capful or 3/4 teaspoon per gallon of water) every week following your regular watering. By watering the plant first, you are flushing out any buildup of salts in the pot.

REPOTTING: Paphs tend to like to be repotted every 1-2 years, and it is essential to repot if your media breaks down (soggy, mushy). Repotting is best done after flowering. Paphs do very well in smaller pots where they can be more root bound, so choose a pot size based on the roots rather than the leaves.

For general culture summary on my seminar handout, click here for the Excel spreadsheet.

Growing Tips: “Lady Slipper Orchids”