A Little Fuzzy Lady Slipper
This little Lady Slipper is colorful, cute, and fuzzy! Phragmipedium schlimii is native to the slopes of the Andes in Colombia. It’s smaller than most other Phragmipediums, or Phrags, so when I spotted this one for sale at last winter’s Pacific Orchid Expo, I figured I could find room for it indoors. A few months later, it popped open two adorable flowers. It stayed in bloom for almost a month. I’ve read that it has a light rose scent, but I didn’t detect any from mine.
Phrags grow similarly to Paphs, the more commonly sold Lady Slippers. In the wild, they often live near rivers and streams, or hanging from cliffs with trickling water which quickly drains away. In cultivation, they should be kept moist, but not saturated. They should not be left sitting in water. This species likes warm days and cool nights down to 60°F (16°C) or a little lower. Provide morning sun, high humidity, good air movement, and regular fertilizer.
The final photo above shows a 1.5 inch (3.8 cm) bloom, slightly larger than a US quarter. Like many Phrags, sizes or colors can vary within the species. Some have paler or more intense pink hues. Some have larger flowers than mine. As far as I know, they’re all fuzzy. I don’t know why, but it certainly adds to their charms.
Explore posts in the same categories: Fertilizing, Fragrant Orchids, Growing, Intermediate Growers, Photos, Watering
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