Paphiopedilum (genus, Venus slipper)

Japanese name: パフィオペディラム
Scientific name: Paphiopedilum

[Overview]
An evergreen perennial.
Most are terrestrial orchids, but some are epiphytic.
The stem is very short, and several simple leaves are arranged alternately.
The leaves are oblong to long tongue-shaped, thick, and entire.
Some kinds have variegated leaves.
The flower stalk emerges from the center of the leaves and grows upright to arching, bearing one to several flowers.
The dorsal sepal is large and well developed, the lateral sepals are often small and inconspicuous, and the shape of the lateral petals varies widely.
The lip is developed into a pouch.
There are many hybrids, and flower colors include purplish brown, yellow, green and white.
The flowers last a long time, blooming for about a month.
The flowering season differs by species, and some kind is in bloom at any time except midsummer.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by division.
Cultivation conditions differ by lineage, but in general it prefers partial shade, good ventilation and high air humidity.
It is safest to keep it at about 10–15°C over winter.
Plant it in sphagnum moss alone in an unglazed clay pot.
It is good to grow it hanging.
In autumn to winter, place it in a sunny spot, and in midsummer provide about 50% shading.
Water every day from spring to autumn, once in the morning and once in the evening when temperatures are high, and once every 2–3 days in winter.
It prefers high air humidity and its leaves drop easily when dry, so mist it with water except in midsummer.
It is especially dry in winter, so mist frequently or place a humidifier nearby.
Apply diluted liquid fertilizer once every 10 days from early summer to autumn.
When the flower stalk starts to grow, set up a support.
If ventilation is poor, soft rot can occur.

[Notes]
The abbreviation of the genus name is "Paph."
In the orchid family, where intergeneric hybrids are numerous, abbreviations of the major genus names have been established in some cases to simplify hybrid formulas and prevent confusion.

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