Paph Mukoyama Green x (Liza Oliveless x Yearly Festival)

Paph Mukoyama Green x (Liza Oliveless x Yearly Festival)

first to bloom...

Paph malipoense

Paph malipoense

When are you going to bloom! It been 3 plus months, how long more should I wait?

 Basket of Paph malipoense..

Looks like having twins

 Big fat bud

 Another view of the twin buds

Another basket of Paph malipoense

Paph spicerianum

Paph spicerianum

Is this their blooming season? I have about 20 of them in spike!

Paph henryanum

Paph henryanum

Not the best in shape... sigh..!! My fault... ha..

Paph (Emulate x Janet Kunkle) x Hsinying Citron

Paph (Emulate x Janet Kunkle) x Hsinying Citron

Was at my little garden since morning, trying to set up the shelves and to take some pix of the newly bloom flowers but was welcomed by heavy rain! I had to delay in setting up the shelves! And only managed to take just one pix!

Paph henryanum

Paph henryanum

Am still trying to update as many blooming pixs as possible after being absence for about a month.(bear with me). Paph henryanum, a species found in the northern Vietnam and southern China (Yunnan). I used to keep smaller paphs in the past and henryanum was one of those that I bought in bulk.

I was not paying much attention to this species in the past as I was not sure if they will every spike or bloom in Singapore. Just left them at one corner, and would water them 2 or 3 times a week, but wasn't observing if they were really doing well or even budding.

I received an image (second pix)when I was away. It shocked me as I wasn't aware that they were spiking or budding at my place.

It was a surprised to me when I finally saw, not only one but many of them were in spike. They plants are very strong but some of the flowers are not as big as what I have seen before in the past. (could be that I was not feeding them enough fertilizer)

I will, for now on... take good care of them... ha ha.. I will feed them...


what is next to update? malipoense, fanaticum, maudiae..... but wait a moment, let me take some pixs first..

Paph vejvarutianum and Paph Nathaniel's Fatmama

Paph vejvarutianum

Finally have a chance to visit my small little garden after coming back from business trip. Another few paph vejvarutianum bloomed. Am happy with the result!

Paph Nathaniel's Fatmama

2 Paph Nathaniel's Fatmama decided to bloom! This one has better shape, but the color isn't strong enough.

2nd Nathaniel's Fatmama, which has better color but smaller flower, decided to cut off the flower. Let the plant grow stronger from now and hopefully the next bloom will be bigger and nicer shape.

Growing Slipper Orchids - Part 5

Sharing of my experience in growing Slipper Orchids (Paphiopedilum)

First of all, thanks for all the emails, queries and feedbacks. I hope I have managed to share most of my slipper orchids experience.

Having a deformed bloomed can be disappointing, no doubt, I have experienced that before! We have to understand that not every blooms are perfect, sometime, you are rewarded with perfect, big flower on its first bloom; However, there are times that you are rewarded with deformed or crippled or small flower.

There are reasons why the flowers were not perfect:

1. The plant was infested with pests prior or during budding

2. Overdosed of pesticide

3. Plant was weak during budding

4. Bud was crushed during budding

5. Recently repotted

6. Change of growing environment

7. Change of cultural habit, watering, fertilizing, not enough lighting etc etc...

To avoid having small, deformed or crippled flower, I usually do not change the potting mix too often, so it's important to have good potting mix that can last a longer period. As I have noticed, too often in changing potting mix will cause the plant to go into hibernation mode, and likely to only see them to grow again after 3 to 6 months time. 

Worst if the plant is really to spike, that might cause the plant to take up more energy to push to flower. So, my personal view is that not to change the potting mix too often, let the plant to settle down first. 

Change only after the flower had wilted.

On another note, if the plant is seriously infested while budding. I will not hesitate to cut off the spike, reason being that I would rather take care of the plant than to look at the flower. Don't think anyone would really want to see a flowering sick plant.

Remember to give all the plants with enough space, that will help them to flower well and promote good air circulation too.

Oh, on a separate note, I just got to know that my Complex(es), spicerianum, henryanum, Maudiae, Yang-Ji Soaring, Nathaniel's Fatmama, Fanaticum, Susan Booth are spiking now, I can't wait to see them, Just have to wait for another few more days before I return from business trip..

Oh Man!! That is really a torture...                                                                                                          

Growing Slipper Orchids - Part 4

Sharing of my experience in growing Slipper Orchids (Paphiopedilum)

first of all, sorry for the late update, was away for almost 2 weeks and had been busy with work. (and am flying off in a short while for biz trip) Here I am, trying to update a bit more about the following:

Pests and diseases

One of the many things that I hated the most when growing slipper orchids - Pests! This is really a pain when seeing red mites and mealy bugs among the plants.

As I am growing most of the my slipper orchids outdoor, this has given plenty of opportunity for the pests to visit. How can I stop them from from coming and what have I been doing in getting rid of them?


Honestly, paphs are less susceptible to pests as the flower do not produce nectar. The common visitors are mites and mealy bugs. And why do these pests visit paphs? very much due to poor ventilation, and poor sanitation.


Always be very careful when using chemical usage, especially many of us are residing in apartment, do be mindful these chemicals may promote harms not just to ourself but also to our neighbours.


Over usage of the chemical may also cripple the flowers and the plants too.


For me, I use Neem oil or White Summer Oil for getting rid of the pests. I would mix approximately 10 drops of the above(either one) with approximately 10 drops of dishwashing liquid in every 1 liter water. Spray onto the plants thoroughly, min at least once every 2 weeks. (however, if the plant is seriously attacked by the pests, you may need to increase the frequency)


Wet condition would promote fungal and rot at the base or crown rot. So, it is encouraged to water the plant in the morning, so that any water that retains in the crown will be able to dry off at the end of the day. 


As many of us are working adults, which is difficult for us to water all our paphs before leaving for work, so, for myself, I water the plants in the evening during the week, and morning over the weekend, I would power up the fan to helping in drying up any excess water that remains in the crown. (so far so good)


Research had shown that cinnamon is a very effective fungicide, again, 10 drops of cinnamon essential oil with 10 drops of dishwashing liquid in every 1 liter of water. Apply this once every 2 weeks, spray thoroughly. (you may need to increase this application during the raining season)


Last but not least: 
1. Do not be afraid of destroying the plant if the plant is seriously infested.
2. prevention is better that cure.


Alright... Am going to fly off soon... do let me know if you wish me to write on other topic... but I can only do that when I am back in 2 weeks time..


Take care, and happy paphing...

Paph vejvarutianum

Paph vejvarutianum

Another vejvarutianum bloomed while I was away, this has better shape as compared to the one bloomed a few weeks ago..