Paph niveum - 20th WOC 2011

Paph niveum (rchb.f.) Stein.

It is one of the few pretty slipper orchids species which is found not very far from us. The distribution range for this species is from Southern Peninsular Thailand to the Northern peninsular Malaysia.

It grows from 30 to about 300 feet, in moss filled cracks on limestone rocks. This is an easy to grow species and very suitable to grow them at window sill. Normally it produces one to two flowers and 3 flowers are not uncommon. Flowers are crystalline-white and dotted with small purple dots. Flowers last between 4 to 8 weeks.

Artificially propagated line-bred plants are easily available in the market. From the selective line-breeding, large and round flowers are produced. The award winning plant was grown from flask. It takes between 2 to 3 years to flower from flask.

20th WOC 2011 - Marina Bay Sands

The 20th WOC 2011 is currently held in Marina Bay Sands Singapore. This event is held every 3 years. It is like an Olympic for Orchids where orchids from all over the over are brought to display and competition.
There were 19 classes in the Cypripedioideae Group. It ranges from species to hybrids and single multifloras. Fellow Paph growers and myself submitted some paphs for this event. To my surprised, two of the brachys were awarded medals and 1 came in first(Blue Ribbon) under the Brachypetalum.
Below are some pf the photos for the display as well as the two medal awarded plants.
The Paph godefroyae was grown by me and sold to a fellow grower last year. Congrats to him for taking good care of the plant.
This shows that as a "tiny dot" in this world, we still can stand up and compete with the rest of the big time growers. More importantly, the message I would like to drive across is that it is a myth that we are not able to grow slipper orchids well here in Singapore.



Paph godefroyae fma leucochilum.

Paph niveum.
Window Display Unit #1 set up by OSSEA.