The terrestrial orchid genera Paphiopedilum and Cypripedium cause confusion among hobby gardeners. Although their flowers look very similar, they differ significantly in terms of cultivation. The German names are responsible for additional confusion, as both are mistakenly referred to as women's shoes. The following explanations would like to shed some light on the matter.
How to care for the lady's slipper Paphiopedilum orchid?
The Lady's Slipper Paphiopedilum orchid is a tropical plant that thrives at temperatures of 20 to 25 degrees Celsius and high humidity. In contrast to the hardy Cypripedium orchid, it blooms from October to February in ideal indoor conditions.
Different origins manifest divergent location requirements
The frequent confusion of Paphiopedilum and Cypripedium would be less consequential if both orchid genera came from the same habitat. In fact, these lady's slipper orchids are native to different parts of the world. Paphiopedilum thrives in tropical regions such as India, Thailand or Malaysia. In contrast, Cypripedium are native to the northern hemisphere. This results in these clear locational divergences:
Paphiopedilum
- In summer at temperatures of 20 to 25 degrees Celsius
- In winter at temperatures of 16 to 22 degrees Celsius
- High humidity of 50 to 70 percent
Cypripedium
- In the summer outdoors at temperatures up to a maximum of 30 degrees
- In winter under a thick blanket of snow down to -25 degrees Celsius
- Normal humidity
In view of these serious differences, botanists call the Paphiopedilum orchid the Venus slipper and the Cypripedium orchid the lady's slipper for better identification.
Divergent flowering times
The heterogeneous origins result in equally heterogeneous flowering times. Paphiopedilum orchids bloom indoors under ideal conditions from October to February. Modern hybrids do not shed their flowers all year round. It follows that the Venus slipper orchid has no rest periods in the true sense. Only the spotted-leaved species require cooler night temperatures of 13 to 16 degrees at the end of the growing season to induce flowers.
The hardy Cypripedium orchid takes a completely different course. Their flowering period lasts 6 to 8 weeks between May and July. The plant then pulls in its leaves and retreats into its rhizomes in the ground. It rests deep in the ground until March of next year to sprout again.
Tip
A Paphiopedilum orchid doesn't want to leave its cozy, warm, humid place on the windowsill at any time of the year. In contrast, a Cypripedium orchid does not feel particularly comfortable in living rooms and winter gardens. This lady's slipper orchid only achieves its optimum performance if it is exposed to frosty temperatures around freezing point in its location in the garden for over 2 months.