Saturday, April 18, 2015

First bloom: Paphiopedilum lowii

The three most distinctive Paphiopedilum species endemic to Borneo are arguably Paphiopedilum rothschildianum, Paphiopedilum sanderianum and Paphiopedilum stonei. I'm happy to have examples of these species growing quite happily in this current setup, as well as Paphiopedilum kolopangkingii, another Borneo endemic. These are still quite young, so I'm a few years (at the least) from being able to flower these.

However, a large 'seedling' of Paphiopedilum lowii is currently in flower and that's a welcome sight. Paph. lowii is one of the more widespread species and can found in the peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, lower islands of Indonesia and the Phillipines and unsurprising, stop at Wallace's line between Bali and Lombok.

Paphiopedilum lowii ('Princehouse' x sib)





Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Phalaenopsis fuscata

March/April appears to be blooming season for Phalaenopsis fuscata in my indoor conditions and this year, the plant managed to produce a new spike. With four blooms, there's a perceptible musky, medicinal fragrance, much like Phalaenopsis lueddemanianna. I really do enjoy the lip from this species and it's really too bad it's not in sync with Phalaenopsis bellina, because I'm still hoping to make a cross with bellina for a remake of Phal. Fuscabell.

Phalaenopsis fuscata