Hello All, Just received a Paphiopedilum Parisienne Pink Lady slipper today to give to my mom. Need to repot and let it “settle” a bit before Easter or Mother’s Day. I’ve heard soil needs to stay moist (not wet or dry) and possibly a humidity tray. She lives in NH now but grew up in Maine where they were “wild”. She loves them. One leaf is folded - is this okay? Any additional suggestions? Thank you.
I hope you share a picture when it blooms, this one should be a stunner. I wouldn’t worry too much about the twisty leaf, it may have just been moved around while it was growing and tilted itself toward different light sources. As long as it’s fairly stiff, not sort of floppy and bendy, it’s perfectly healthy, just grew a little funny. As a terrestrial orchid, yes, most paphs like to be maintained in moist medium, but nothing too suffocating like fine peat moss or soil. Usually a very small grade bark is good. Mine love the repotme terrestrial mix. But I wouldn’t repot until after the flower is finished blooming. These take EXCRUCIATINGLY long to develop a flower spike, I would hate for you to lose your bloom when you are so close to flowering.
1 j'aimeOh, and mine have never needed extra humidity. If your mom’s environment were extremely dry, maybe…? But generally, just a good watering regime works fine for them. Also, these are kind of the lowest light orchids… they need light, of course, but nowhere near what Cattleya oncidium or vandas need. Bright indirect is a good rule of thumb.
1 j'aimeThank you so much Jen. It is amazing how many people care about others on this app.
1 j'aimeMy pleasure! Happy to help!
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I’ve never had one, but I live in NH too and love spotting lady slippers on a hike 🥰
1 j'aimeI gave my mother the lady slipper on Easter and it full bloomed by Tuesday. She loved it. A little darker & marooner than I thought this this clashing pot (Not the LS she saw when she was younger so now I get to give her another for Mother’s Day.
