Green Culture Singapore Feature Article for May 2009 Published on 22 June 2009 Text & Pictures by Lim

m Xuan Hong

Introduction
Orchids are the largest family of flowering plants. They generally can be classified into having sympodial and monopodial growth habits.

Above: Dainty and unique flower of Phragmipedium pearcei.

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Sympodial Slipper orchids can be generally classified as sympodial even though they have leaves which look similar to strap leaved vandaceous Monopodial orchids. This is because they reproduce by growing offshoots at the base of the mother plant characteristic of sympodial orchids

Above: Sketch highlighting differences between sympodial and monopodial orchids.

Terrestial Slipper orchids, unlike the commercial Dendrobium and Cattleya orchids, are mostly terrestrial and grow on loose soil or rocky ground (lithophytes). Hence in their natural environment, their roots do not usually dry out entirely as they are covered by media rather than exposed to air. Other orchids which are terrestrial include jewel orchids, Habenaria, reed Epidendrum, Eulophia, Bamboo orchid (Arundiana) and Spathoglottis.

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Structure Slipper orchids are named as such due to their unique pouch resembling a ladys slipper. The Cypripedium genus is commonly found across North America and hence people who cultivate these plants associate their flowers with pouchlike lip with the slippers or moccasin which they wear.

Above: The general structure of a slipper orchid

Uniqueand carnivorous? Slipper orchids have been so sought after that certain clones or species have brought out the ugly side of human nature. It has been known that special clones of award winning hybrids can easily command USD$2000 for a growth and collectors have willed that their collection be destroyed after demise. Renowned botanists have gotten into trouble with the law for smuggling rare species under the CITES convention. So why did people go to such extremes to obtain these plants? This is simply because the flowers of these alluring genera of orchids have been too mesmerising for collectors and expert growers. Call them weird, majestic or peculiar people just cannot resist the temptation of growing one themselves!

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It is a common misconception that slipper orchids are carnivorous, largely due to the fact that these plants resemble pitcher plants by having a pouch. But these slipper orchids have a pouch on their flower not their leaves! Hence it is only logical that the pouches have to do with slipper orchids reproduction and the flowers pollination. Indeed, the pouch traps insects when they land into the pouch so they are forced to climb up past the staminode, behind which they collect or deposit the pollinia, and in so doing pollinating the flower.

Types of Slipper Orchids

There are 5 genera of slipper orchids Cypripedium, Mexipedium, Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium and Selenipedium.

Above (from left to right): Cypripedium, Mexipedium, Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium and Selenipedium However, Cypripedium, Mexipedium, and Selenipedium are not commonly found in Singapore so only Paphiopedilum and Phragmipedium will be covered in depth in this article.

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Paphiopedilum Subgenus Brachypetalum These plants are all mottled and warm growing. For beginner growers in Singapore, it is highly recommended that this group of slipper orchids be tried first for a confidence booster. Most come from South-East Asia hence suitable for our climate.

Left: Look out for the mottled leaves of this subgenus. Shown here is the easy growing Paphiopedilum niveum Other species in this subgenus include:

Source: slipperorchid.info www.greenculturesg.com 5

Subgenus Paphiopedilum These plants from this subgenus also originate from South-East Asia, but some may be highland growing. Several known to be able to grow and to some extent bloom include:

Subgenus Polyantha These plants also come from South East Asia but most are intermediate to highland growing. Several species worth a try include:

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Growing Conditions
Media: Free draining soil / media. Different growers prefer to use different media but what is crucial is that it must retain a certain amount to moisture yet be well draining. This is because slipper orchids lack pseudobulb for water storage, so they should not be allowed to dry out entirely. Waterlogged soil is a no-no for Paphiopedilum as their roots will rot. Media I use include: 0.3-1cm rocks in burnt earth, tree fern fibre, bark chips (fine), diatomite, pumice, small charcoal bits or perlite and sphagnum mix.

Above (Clockwise from top left): Tree fern fibre, small bark chips, pumice & diatomite.

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Temperature: For above mentioned subgenera, balcony / garden conditions can do fine. Make sure there is air-circulation to keep plants cool as slipper orchids do not take severe heat well.

Sunlight: Morning sun is the best for these plants. Alternatively provide bright light (must be able to form a shadow with your hands 30 cm above the location). Avoid direct afternoon sun as the heat will burn the leaves of these orchids and form scorch marks on the leaves.

Fertiliser: Fertilise slipper orchids at recommended dosage of orchid fertiliser weekly or twice a week when the plant is actively growing.

Above: My Paphiopedilum spicerianum grown as described above.

Hybrid Vigour: Like other plants, hybrids may be able to tolerate heat and even grow faster due to hybrid vigour. Crosses with a warm growing parent (e.g. with Brachypetalum subgenus) will have a higher chance of growing well in our warm climate here.

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Above: A hybrid with subgenus Brachypetalum parentage.

Phragmipedium These slipper orchids generally have longer petals and have a more floppy look than Paphiopedilum. One of the advantages of growing them is that they are multi-floral, while most Paphiopedilum are not. These plants originate from South America and are hard to come by in Singapore. There are only 20 odd species in this genus and only 1 or 2 species can tolerate the heat well in Singapore.

Above: Phragmipedium pearcei has been known to be able to grow well here in Singapore. www.greenculturesg.com 9

Growing Conditions

Left: A slipper orchid taken by fellow GCS member Teresa (sasa) in Kinabalu Botanical Gardens. Media: The natural habitat of Phragmipedium differs slightly from Paphiopedilum. Phragmipedium usually grow on rocks near waterfalls or streams in the mountains of South America. Hence they like their roots moist, wet and cool most of the time. Grow them in sphagnum and perlite mix. Temperature: To keep temperature low, place the plants in a well ventilated area. If possible locate them near water bodies or foliage to keep their surrounding temperature lower. Water: Run water through the media of the plants daily to simulate the natural surroundings of the plant. In the wild, Phragmipedium roots can be immersed in constantly flowing water. Light: Give them morning sun / bright light while avoid heating the plant up.

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Conclusion
Despite their allure, some slipper orchids can pose a challenge to inexperienced growers especially if the species concerned is a cool growing plant. However, with research and experience growing these plants, getting slipper orchids to flower is definitely a very rewarding experience!

References
1. www.slipperorchid.org 2. www.slipperorchid.info 3. www.slipperorchid.com/forum 4. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ladys_slipper

Acknowledgements
The author of this article would like to express his gratitude to: GCS members who came down to support the Learn to grow Slipper Orchids talk on the 23 May 2009. Joseph (GCS Carnivorous plants and Orchids advisor) for his help during the talk and for sharing his experience. Teresa (Sasa) for contributing photos for the talk and this article.

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