This subspecies of Paph. micranthum stole the show at the 2010 Taiwan International Orchid Show, garnering the ultimate honor of Grand Champion! Huge, eye-catching flowers with superb form, these spectacular plants are compact and have been flowering with an amazing color range on the petals; either bright yellow sepals with faint chestnut- brown striations, or as in our second picture, vibrant pink on its petals and dorsal sepal, both forms bearing a white pouch. It produces leaves longer in length and darker in markings than the regular pink form of Paph. micranthum. It produces its almost 6.5cm flowers on tall erect inflorescence, each flower rivaling its leaf span in size!
Culture tip: This plant needs to be kept drier and have cooler nighttime temperature (below 55°F) for at least 2 – 3 weeks during fall (similar in treatment to nobile-type Dendrobiums) to induce flowering. We usually put them outdoors during the fall here in Southern California and have grown them with nighttime temperature down to 39°F. In their native Guangxi, China, it was reported growing in areas that have temperatures down to 32°F. This strain is hardier than the regular pink form of Paph. micranthum and with silver marking on its leaves. Note, it can take several months for the inflorescence to elongate and bloom.
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. 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. Can be grown on a bright windowsill, under lights, or in an orchid cabinet. This subspecies is hard to find in the market. A “must have” for serious Paph collector. This seedling population is a sibling cross of two superior forms from Guangxi, China. Rare and Very Highly Recommended!
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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.