The terrestrial orchid genera Paphiopedilum and Cypripedium cause confusion among hobby gardeners. Although their flowers look confusingly similar, they differ significantly in terms of cultivation. The German names are responsible for additional confusion, as both are erroneously dubbed Frauenschuh. The following explanations would like to bring some light into the darkness.
Both Paphiopedilum and Cypripedium are called lady's slipper orchids
Different origins manifest divergent location requirements
The frequent confusion of Paphiopedilum and Cypripedium would have fewer consequences if both orchid genera came from the same habitat. In fact, these lady's slipper orchids are native to different parts of the world. Paphiopedilum thrives in tropical regions such as India, Thailand and Malaysia. In contrast, Cypripedium are native to the northern hemisphere. This results in these clear location divergences:
paphiopedilum
- In summer at temperatures of 20 to 25 degrees Celsius
- In winter, temperatures range from 16 to 22 degrees Celsius
- High humidity of 50 to 70 percent
Cypripedium
- In summer outdoors at temperatures up to a maximum of 30 degrees
- In winter under a thick blanket of snow down to - 25 degrees Celsius
- Normal humidity
In view of these striking differences, botanists refer to the Paphiopedilum orchid as the Venus' slipper and the Cypripedium orchid as the lady's slipper for better identification.
Divergent heydays
The heterogeneous origin leads to equally heterogeneous heydays. Paphiopedilum orchids flower indoors under ideal conditions from October to February. Modern hybrids don't shed their flowers all year round. From this it follows that the venus slipper orchid knows no rest periods in the actual sense. Only species with mottled leaves need cooler night temperatures of 13 to 16 degrees at the end of the growth period to induce flowering.
The hardy Cypripedium orchid takes a completely different course. Her flowering period extends over 6 to 8 weeks between May and July. The plant then pulls in its foliage and retreats into its rhizomes in the ground. Until March of the next year, it rests deep in the ground to sprout again.
tips
A Paphiopedilum orchid does not want to leave its cosy, warm, humid place on the window sill at any time of the year. In contrast, a Cypripedium orchid does not feel particularly comfortable in living rooms and conservatories. This lady's slipper orchid only achieves its optimum when it is exposed to frosty temperatures around the freezing point at its location in the garden for more than 2 months.