Lady slipper orchids with shoe-like lips and flowers that last for weeks

Paphiopedilum, or slipper orchid as it is sometimes called in Swedish, is one of the orchid world's most distinct groups. The name comes from the characteristic lip, which is shaped into a deep, shoe-like pouch—in nature, a trap that guides pollinating insects past the stamens on their way out.

The genus comprises over 80 species from Southeast Asia, ranging from India and southern China through Thailand and Malaysia to the Philippines and New Guinea. Most grow terrestrially (in the ground) or lithophytically on shaded forest floors and limestone cliffs, often in thin layers of leaves and humus.

Unlike many other orchids, Paphiopedilum lacks pseudobulbs. Instead, they form rosettes of strap-shaped leaves that are either solid green or beautifully marbled in light and dark green. The flowers are large, waxy, and unusually long-lived; a single flower can remain for several weeks, sometimes a couple of months. The colors range from green, white, and yellow to deep burgundy, purple, and brown, often with spots, stripes, or veins.

In this mix, you will receive the variety shown in the product image.

Care

Thriving in partial shade to bright, indirect light, slipper orchids require significantly less light than most other orchids, making them well-suited for standard windowsills.

Since they lack pseudobulbs, they cannot store water and should never dry out completely. Keep the substrate consistently slightly moist and water when the surface begins to dry. Use a finer orchid substrate with bark, perlite, and preferably some sphagnum moss. Varieties with marbled leaves generally come from warmer environments, while green-leaved varieties often appreciate slightly cooler conditions.

Ideal temperature is 18–26 degrees Celsius with a night drop. Fertilize weakly but regularly during the growing season with diluted orchid fertilizer. Buy slipper orchids online