Pafiopedilum is a beautiful and unique type of orchid, which is most often called “lady's slipper”. This plant impresses with its variety of varieties, which differ in the appearance of flowers and leaves. Tropical beauty hails from South Asia.
It is possible to grow a shoe not only in a greenhouse, but also at home, if you responsibly approach this issue and provide close climatic conditions. Pafiopedilum will be a smart decoration for your home.
Brief Definition
Pafiopedilum is a plant that belongs to perennial ancient herbaceous plants, the family is orchids. The homeland of color is:
India.- China.
- Thailand.
- Malaysia.
- Philippines.
India.A lady's shoe is bred most often in botanical gardens due to difficulties in creating the necessary conditions and reproduction, but the bred hybrids allow to grow this culture in an apartment and a house.
Appearance
In papiopedilum, the root system is carefully developed, slightly lowered, has a brown color, and the stem is short. Leaf plates of various shapes, since the orchid variety is the determining factor here. You can see broad or oblong leaves.
The color of the sheet plate is also different: it can be monochrome or it can have an interesting marble pattern. The length of the leaf is 50-60 cm. The peduncle reaches a height of 5-55 cm. In all types of inflorescences are the same in color and shape. On one stem can form about 30 flowers.
The flowers themselves are large, have an expressive form. Color may be as follows:
- red;
- yellow;
- green.
The top petal is directed upwards, it is wide and bright, while the light is wrapped. This prevents water from entering during rain or watering. The lip resembles a graceful shoe, so Orchid and received several names:
- lady's slipper;
- hooters;
- slipper of Venus.
A photo
You will see a photo of a flower:
History of
The classification of pafiopedilum into a separate genus occurred in the 19th century. Back in 1819 in India, the Danish scientist Nathaniel Wallich for the first time provided the world with this incredible beautiful flower. That year the orchid began to spread throughout Europe. In the 19th century, these amazing flowers were bred in the nursery of England at the royal palace.
What is the difference from other plant species?
The main difference of Pafiopedilum from other types of orchids is that the flower exhibits its conditions of maintenance: temperature, humidity, soil. In addition, you need to specify the time of purchase of a plant from a specialist. The next feature of the flower is that after flowering the leaves do not fall off, so that throughout the year the plant pleases with its attractive appearance, but rather with bright greens.
Subsort
The following popular types of papiopedilum can be distinguished:
- Appleton. This plant is distinguished by large and bulky flowers, the diameter of which is 10 cm. Flowering occurs in spring, and to prolong this period it is necessary to provide the culture with proper care. The color of flowers is bright yellow, and the foliage is greenish-purple, has a pleasant aroma. Marble pattern is scattered on the surface of the sheet plate. The density of leaves is hard, and their tips are slightly rounded.
- Great. The Himalayas remain the birthplace of this type of pafiopedilum. Its flowers are very delicate green color, and you can watch their incredible beauty in late autumn and throughout the winter. When growing plants need to provide him with coolness. Leaf plate up to 30 cm long, peduncle - medium.
- Snow white This orchid is very delicate, and when it is grown it will take a lot of light and heat. During flowering white flowers can be observed, on the surface of which dark dots are scattered. With one peduncle, 20 cm long, you can get 1-2 fragrant flowers, with a diameter of 8 cm. The leaf plate is long, and marble patterns are located on its surface.
Bloom
Timing
The duration of flowering is 3 months, but even after that, the plant will show off elegant foliage.
How to care before and after flowering?
This flower reacts negatively to the move. Just before flowering and before the formation of buds, you can not move the pot with papiopedilum . Since it hurts the flower, the stem and leaves may be deformed.
The plant loves a lot of light, especially during the flowering period. Also, you can not repot the flower, because of stress, flowering may not occur at all. When the orchid ottsvetet, and the peduncle dries, then it must be cut strictly at the base.
What if there are no buds?
To bloom, you can not allow temperature drops. It is also important to observe the norms of humidity, fertilize and water in time, and fitolamps in winter.
Important! Immediately before flowering, as well as during the time you can not move or move the pot.
Step-by-step home care instructions
Choosing a place
If you grow a flower in an apartment, then you need to put it in a cozy corner, where there are no drafts and partial shade.
Soil preparation and pot
For Venus's shoe, you need to choose a substrate that is able to retain moisture. It should include the following components:
- pine bark;
- sphagnum;
- charcoal.
The soil should be light and fluffy. As for the pot, it is better to choose a wide and shallow, and most importantly transparent, to observe the development of the root system.
Temperature
For pafiopedilum, the optimum summer temperature remains 23-28 degrees, and in winter these figures should be 18-23 degrees. If you grow cold-resistant types of pafiopedilum with wide and dark leaves, then the temperature is better to reduce by 2-3 degrees. At the same time at night the temperature indicators should be 3-5 degrees lower than during the day.
Humidity
For orchids pafiopedilumoptimal humidity remains 70-80%. But to carry out spraying is not recommended. To increase the humidity in the room, you should use humidifiers or place containers with water near the plant.
Lighting
Pafiopedilum - light-loving plant. It is better to grow it on windows of the western or east direction. Only in the daytime, when the scorching rays of the sun are present, should you think about shading. Duration of daylight hours for orchids is 12-13 hours.
Watering
Pafiopedilum is a moisture-resistant culture, so they do not tolerate the drying out of the soil, but overmoistening can adversely affect the condition of the plant. When an orchid enters the stage of active growth, it is important for it to provide maximum hydration, and at the end of flowering watering should be reduced.
For watering you need to use clean room water. When wetting, avoid contact with liquid on the leaves and the outlet. It is best to use the irrigation method, in which the pot is placed in a pan with water.
Top dressing
Fertilizers for orchids to make once a month, and during flowering to carry out this manipulation 2 times a month. You can use special mineral fertilizers, but the proportions indicated in the instructions should be reduced by 2 times. Pafiopedilum does not tolerate excess salts in the soil. To avoid this, you need to water the plant with distilled water, and the next time you add mineral fertilizers.
Transfer
If the soil is heavily contaminated and decomposed, then it is better to update it. It is advisable to transplant orchids of this species once every 7-8 months. Make it better in the spring, all carefully and carefully, so as not to damage the roots. Procedure:
- Water the plant the day before the procedure.
- Remove the flower gently, so as not to damage the roots. You can wash them with water and wait for them to dry.
- Replant the plant in a new pot and soil.
- After transplantation, do not water the flower for 3-4 days.
How to multiply?
It is best to use for the orchid of this type of method of dividing the bush during transplantation. To do this, it is necessary to leave 3 sockets with roots on each delenka. After the plant has got accustomed, do not water it for 2 weeks. Indoors, the air temperature should not exceed 22 degrees.
Attention! If the number of root rosettes is less than three, papiopedilum will take a long time to take root, and flowering will not occur.
Diseases and pests
Among the pests, the danger for papiopedilum is:
- pincers;
- scythes;
- cherventsy.
These parasites cause significant damage to the leaf plate, stems and peduncles, as they suck the juice out of them. As a result, the orchid is covered with black sticky dew. Spraying Fitoverm, which is carried out once a week, will help to get rid of the evils of these pests.
The main diseases of the orchid are rot and fungi. These are diseases of the root and its base. This happens due to poor air circulation, high humidity and dampness. Save the situation can copper sulphate.
Similar plants
Such plants are similar to the pafiopedilum:
- Bearded Iris. This species looks like a flower shape. He villi of lower petals resemble neat little beard.
- Cumbria This culture has flowers, the petals of which are also covered with dark dots, and the upper petal is bent forward, like the pafiopedilum.
- Large flowered slipper. This plant can be selected for both home and garden. It has effective lilac flowers and elongated light green leaves.
- Spotted slipper. In culture, the leaves look like an orchid - wide and elliptical in shape, with an even cut. The buds are the same shape as papiopedilum, and their color can be pink or purple.
- Grammatofillium. The plant has very showy yellow flowers with brown spots.
Pafiopedilum is a very interesting and beautiful ornamental plant that actively adorns not only botanical gardens, but also apartments. And let the care of the culture should be thorough and regular, the beauty of its appearance, will not leave indifferent any grower.
