A small, warm to hot growing, calcicoles terrestrial species from Southeast Asia where it grows in shaded limestone fissures from sea level up to about 200 meters. This is, in my opinion, the most beautiful species in the lovely Brachypetalus subgenus, a group of Paphiopedilum priced for its beautifully mottled or tessellated leaves. In the case of Paphiopedilum niveum the snow white flower is complemented by stunning blue-gray mottled leaves with a purple spotted underside, making the plant equally attractive weather it is in bloom or not. My flower measures about 8 cm across when opened completely and it is perched on a 14 cm tall inflorescence. The flower has been opened for about 1,5 week in the photos but it has still not opened any wider than this. I wonder if it is genetic, or if it is a first bloom shortcoming? I got this as a young plant from Danish grower KJ Orchids at Gothenburg International Orchid show in 2010, and this is the first time it blooms. Maybe it will be a litte better shaped next time.
Even though it is listed as a warm grower I grow mine successfully intermediate on the windowsill under medium low supplemental light year round. I grow it potted in a mix of bark and lava rocks with a pinch of lime on top. It receives ample water when it is active and is kept slightly drier and cooler in the winter.
Paphiopedilum niveum (Rchb.f.) Stein, Orchid.-Buch: 478 (1892).
My paphs fail to open fully when they’re a little under watered or the humidity is low.
Karma,
I love you orchid posts and I am looking through your site now. Very nice. In my regular job I’m a horticulturist and have had an interest in orchids for years.
Take care,
Glenn
did you get my message?
nice website… I hope you’re doing well.
Glenn
Thank you Justin! I think you are on to something… the relative humidity has been a little but unstable, that might be the reason for the underdeveloped flower. It’s OK… it is still gorgeous. 🙂
Glenn!! So nice to hear from you. 🙂 I am doing very well, hope you are too. Thank you very much, I am happy to hear that you enjoy my orchid photos. I still have a lot to learn before I can play in the same league as you, you are still the best photographer I have ever worked with. I did not know you were into orchids too. Amazing family of plants… I am quite hooked, as you can see. Take care!!
Had a breakdown in 2008 and have found something healing and rewarding in growing orchid species. I designed a vivarium of my own after seeing yours and have had greater success with many species. So thank you. I pray you will find the peace of mind and meaning in life you are looking for while tending your great collection and posting insightful information. Joel – Australia
Thank you very much Joel! I am very happy to hear that you found inspiration here for your own vivarium build, and that you find it as therapeutic as I do to tend to the orchids. Take care!
Certainly do… I am currently waiting on 5 different species of dendrobium from Orchid Species Plus in New South Wales. The shipment includes D. tobaense a great species from the section formosae. They also have more of the cool growing species than anyone else here in Australia. I hope to build a cool growing vivariums soon.
How exciting! Always fun to get home special plants. Fun to be a bit of an exxcenrric the area with cool growers too, why make it easy? . Good luck with the vivarium builds!