We registered Paphiopedilum (abbreviated Paph.) Summer Mint with permission from Mr. Shen, who remade the cross using the alba color form of Paph. philippinense fma laevigatum. We are thrilled to introduce the first Paph of this type of breeding to the USA.
Mr. Shen is an educator by profession. He has one of the best private Paph collections in Taiwan and he has been collecting the best Paphs from USA, Japan, and Germany to build his breeding stock. He is not known outside of Taiwan, but many commercial growers from the island purchase plants from him for hybridizing, even some of the top growers in Japan. Unlike commercial hybridizers, he doesn’t shy away from doing more basic crosses like remakes of primary hybrids. His greenhouse has no evaporative cooling—just a roof to cover the plants from rain, so plants are toughened not pampered.
Paph. philippinense is found from the Philippines to northern Borneo at elevations up to 500 meters.
Plants are compact and blooms from late spring to early summer. It is a popular long-petaled multifloral Paph species with spiral sepal petals. It can have up to 7 flowers per inflorescence and makes a beautiful display plant. Because Phal. philippinense is used as the pod parent, its growth habit is dominant. Paph. Enzan Bubble Gum, the pollen parent, is a complex green.
Paphs detest soggy growing medium; pot in well-draining media. Grow them in bright light and warm temperature with high humidity and good air circulation, on a windowsill or under lights. As with all Paphs, its roots are sensitive to salt buildup from excess fertilizer which causes leaf tips to turn brown. It is a good practice to flush the medium with fresh, clean water once a month and repot Paphs in fresh media every year.
These remarkable plants are compact, vigorous, and have heat tolerance. It flowers during the summer after Mothers’ Day—a welcome blooming time for Paphs. Very easy to grow and bloom. They are most happy growing alongside novelty Phalaenopsis. Can be grown on a windowsill or under lights. Definitely deserving of inclusion in any orchid collection, large or small! Do not miss this opportunity to buy this remarkable remake. Highly recommended.
PLEASE NOTE: Since this is a Seedling Population (not a Mericlone which produces exact duplicates), the picture is for illustration purposes only. No two plants will be the same from this cross, and they will flower in a range of possibilities coming from the two parents.