About slipper orchid, paphiopedilum

About slipper orchid, paphiopedilumThe paphiopedilums are widely cultivated and hybridized plants, especially in Romania. Paphiopedilum is also known as slipper orchid  and it has amazing flowers and leaves. They can be easily gown as house plants and you can buy them at garden centers in Romania. Here are some quick facts for you: Popular name: Slipper orchidBotanical name :PaphiopedilumGroup: HouseplantFlowering time: VariablePlanting time in February to JuneHeight and spread: 15-30cm  This is a group of terrestrial orchids ( meaning they grow in the ground), however they do not produce pseudo bulbs at the base of their stems like the rest of the orchids do. You should grow them in the shade, because they do not enjoy full sunlight. The slipper orchid flowers in Romania from the month of November to March, but you can see its flowers at any time of the year. In Romania, these flowers can be seen to last up to three months. It is quite a view. Make sure you water the Paphiopedilum orchids regularly in the springtime and summertime. Allow the compost to dry out a little between watering and try not to overwater them. Do not mist this orchid. It is important to make sure you apply orchid fertilizer every 2 to 3 weeks at the application rate recommended on the packet. Reduce the frequency and/or strength of feeding in the wintertime.  If you wish to re-pot them, make sure you do so between February and June, using special orchid compos for this operation. Use proper containers for re-potting this type of orchids and make sure the roots of the plant have enough space to grow.  As a quick tip to consider, you can use a tray of pebbles filled with a bit of water to increase humidity around the slippery orchid. Make sure you give your plants room for air to circulate all around them. If they are crowded, this can lead to insect infestations and even fungus.