Humidity and Temperature

HUMIDITY  Paphs, like most tropical orchids like humidity, so try to maintain about 70% humidity, Plants will generally not do well with less than 50% humidity. Stand plants on water-filled trays of gravel (making sure plants do not sit in water), and spray plants with water during warm dry weather in order to increase humidity.

TEMPERATURE AND VENTILATION   Most paphs are happy with intermediate to warm temperatures from 75-80 during the day, and around 65-70 at night. A drop in temperature at night during the cooler months, may help induce buds. ‘Standard’ or 'complex' paphs enjoy temperatures about 5 degrees cooler. Make sure that there is always adequate ventilation and air circulation, particularly in the winter, or during very humid conditions, in order to avoid fungal and bacterial disease. However, do not subject plants to blasts of cold or hot air. An oscillating fan that moves air constantly at low speed is extremely beneficial.     

FLOWERING     Buds will emerge from the growing tip of the plant on wiry stems. Do not disturb plants too much while buds are forming otherwise the stems will be crooked and the plant will not look as attractive in bloom.  Do not subject them to sudden temperature changes as this may cause buds to drop. Also make especially sure plants do not dry out, as this may cause bud blast. If flowers droop when fully open, insert a stake in the pot and tie the bud to hold it up. Cut flowers last well in water, but usually longer on the plant.  Snip off the stem at the base once all flowers have faded. 

The exception to this are the sequential bloomers. These include all species in the section Cochopetalum, including Paph. glauycophyllum, moquettianum, liemianum, chamberlianianum and primulinum as well as hybrids made between these. All are similar in shape to Paph chamberlainianum shown below especially with respect to the short twisted petals. Paph primulinum is yellow, but the others are in shades of moss green and pink and soft green. Paphs in this section will produce one flower after the next on the SAME flowering stem. Do not cut the stem off unless it withers and dies on its own. The flowering stems form a zig-zag shape with a sheath to indicate where the previous flower was before it dropped off, and a new one emerged. Well-grown plants can have two or more stems blooming at any one time.