The Paphiopedilum is an elegant orchid with an eye-catching lip, slender stem and sweeping petals. Thanks to the shoe-shaped lip, this plant is also called the Venus slipper, lady slipper or slipper orchid. Because if you see the lip separate from the flower, it looks just like a slipper! But that’s not all that’s special about this orchid. In this article, you can read 11 more fun facts about the Paphiopedilum!

Also read: These are the 11 most popular types of Orchids

 

12 fun facts about the Paphiopedilum

2. The shoe-shaped lip of the Paphiopedilum not only makes for a cute nickname, but it also helps in pollination. It gives off an odour – inaudible to humans – and lures flies into its mouth. Once inside the mirror-smooth lip, there is only one way out: along a staircase of hairs at the back of the lip, past the pollen and pistil.

3. A few Paphiopedilums and Phragmipediums have such long petals on their flower that they reach their leaves or sometimes even the ground. These petals then serve as a path for crawling insects to walk to the mouth and take care of pollination there.

 

 

4. Paphiopedilums are propagated mainly through seeds. After pollination, the flower falls from the stem and the ovary at the top of the stem swells. Depending on the variety, the seed must ripen on the plant for six months to a year, before the seed pod can be harvested and sown on special soil with the necessary nutrients for germination.

 

 

5. The seed pod contains tens of thousands of seeds, as fine as dust. This seed doesn’t carry any nutrients for germination and must enter into a symbiosis with certain fungi. So in nature, the seed must fall in the right place in order to germinate. In the laboratory, we make a breeding ground with special nutrients, including bananas, that help the fine seed germinate. The germination process takes up to several months.

6. Paphiopedilum is a large family with many diverse species. From very small to large flowers, from green leaves to variegated leaves with flower colours from white-green to almost black, and from solid colours to speckles and stripes.

7. Paphiopedilums are sympodial orchids. These orchids grow from a horizontal stem instead of a vertical stem. Sympodial orchids have multiple stalks – or pseudobulbs – which increase in number every year. Usually, these new pseudobulbs emerge from the side of an older pseudobulb.

 

 

8. Paphiopedilums are southeast Asian orchids which are native to humid forests. While the majority of orchids are epiphytes (grow in trees), Paphiopedilums are mostly terrestrial. This means they usually grow amongst rocks, moss and leaf litter. That’s why the Paphiopedilum doesn’t like direct sunlight: in nature, it’s protected by the foliage of the trees.

9. The Paphiopedilum is a ground orchid. There is no chlorophyll in the roots; therefore, the plant isn’t placed in a transparent pot.

10. The Paphiopedilum flowers for about 6 to 12 weeks, depending on the variety.

11. The process of crossing, seed, germination and growth into a flowering plant takes about 6 years.

12. The Dutch American Hybrids are crossed to be grown sustainably, with fewer diseases and easy re-flowering in the living room.

 

 

Paphiopedilum care tips

A few Paphiopedilum care tips:

• Water your Paphiopedilum once a week, slightly more in the summer. Make sure that no water remains at the bottom of the outer pot.
• Paphiopedilums are shade plants, so don’t place them in direct sunlight.
• Did your Paphiopedilum finish flowering? Then remove the stem as deep as possible and place the plant in a cooler room. Also give it a little less water, which promotes bud induction in the new shoots.
• Keep the plant cooler for about six weeks and then treat it again with sufficient light, water and a warmer temperature. This in turn gives new shoot growth, which is necessary for subsequent flowering.

 

Read more about the Paphiopedilum orchid!

Keukenhof is the perfect place to celebrate spring in the Netherlands. The flower park in Lisse will be open for the 74th time from March 23, 2023. It’s one of the most beautiful attractions in The Netherlands and is visited by people from all over the world.

Also read: How to style the Colour of the Year 2023: Viva Magenta

 

Keukenhof 2023

Keukenhof will be open from Thursday 23 March to Sunday 14 May 2023. The 15 km hiking trails are laid out in such a way that you have a spectacular view of the fragrant flower gardens and flower greenhouses. During your walk, you will see unique, weekly changing flower shows, beautiful ponds and various pavilions with restaurants and terraces. In addition to the flower gardens, Keukenhof is also home to the largest sculpture park in the Netherlands. You can admire many images here, made by national and international artists.

Keukenhof displays flowers and blooming plants not only outdoors, but also indoors. In the Beatrix Pavilion, you can enjoy orchids in a wonderful colourful ambiance!

 

 

Theme 2023

Each year, Keukenhof has a special theme to which the designs of the gardens and the flower shows in the pavilions are inspired. Last year it was ‘Flower Classics’: a classic and timeless theme, and also a reference to art. In 2023, Keukenhof has no overarching theme. The flower shows will each have their own theme, making a visit to Keukenhof even more varied. In addition, flowers, colours and scents connect in any way; this is a theme in itself!

 

 

Practical information

Keukenhof is open from Thursday 23 March to Sunday 14 May 2023, from 8:00 am – 7:30 pm. More information and tickets can be found on their website.

Address:
Stationsweg 166A
2161 AM Lisse

 

Also read: The style trends for 2023 in the field of flowers and houseplants

It’s common knowledge that a plant has roots, but the air roots of an orchid are a little less known. So you’re probably wondering what they are, what their function is and whether you can cut off an orchid’s air roots. Read all about it in this article!

Also read: How to make orchids rebloom again?

 

What are air roots?

Curious about what the roots that grow outside of the pot of your orchid are? Air roots are crazy-looking tendrils that look a little like tentacles, but they are perfectly normal! They are firm and white, and often grow downwards.

 

 

What is the function of air roots?

Orchids use their roots to absorb nutrients from the air, absorbing moisture and obtaining carbon dioxide they need to thrive. However, this is especially true in areas and climates with high humidity. In the average living room, this function is therefore less effective and doesn’t have a huge effect on the growth of your plant.

Fun fact: orchids are epiphytes, which means they grow on other plants – such as a tree in a tropical rainforest. They use their roots to attach themselves to tree branches high above the jungle floor, to attempt to reach the light filtering through the leafy canopy. So, many plants that we place in a pot are actually climbing plants!

 

Should I cut the air roots off my orchid?

Not everyone is a fan of aerial roots, as they can make the plant look a bit crazy. However, if the air roots are firm and white, they are healthy and you don’t need to do anything at all. Trim the ones looking brown and soft, but work carefully to avoid cutting too deep and harming the plant. Do the air roots really bother you? Then cut a few off, but not all at once. This way your orchid can slowly get used to it.

 

 

Also read: 3 ways to water your orchid

With spring in sight, it’s time for a new, fresh scent in your home. And you can easily make one yourself! In this article, we share step-by-step instructions for a DIY room spray. We are adding scented orchids – not only because they smell nice, but they also look great too!

DIY room spray with scented orchids

 

 

Necessities room spray with scented orchids

• A scented orchid, like Cambria, Miltonia, Phalaenopsis, Dendrobium or Zygopetalum
• 50 ml distilled water
• 50 ml vodka
• 15-30 drops of essential oil of choice
• Vanilla-extract
• Spray bottle

 

Instructions

Fill the spray bottle with distilled water and alcohol. Add the essential oil and a dash of vanilla extract. Keep playing with the amounts until you’ve found a fragrance that works for you. Shake the bottle carefully to mix everything. Then cut a few flowers from the orchid and place them in the bottle. In the video below we used a fragrant Phalaenopsis, but you can use a Cambria, Miltonia or Zygopetalum too. Twist the cap on, shake it a bit and spray!

 

@orchidsinfo

The orchid makes this home spray smell so good! #diy #roomspray #homespray #orchid #flower #interior #home #flowerscent #huisgeur #huisspray #orchidee #diyroomspray

♬ original sound – jaredjjenkins

 

Do you want to hang on to the scent for longer? Then leave the cap off and place a few wooden sticks in the bottle. The result is homemade fragrance sticks! Place them in a nice spot in your house and enjoy them every time you walk by.

 

More fun DIY ideas:

• DIY: scented sticks with Cambria and tuberose
• DIY: kokedama with exclusive orchids
• DIY: Gift wrapping with orchids

The colour we will see this year is Viva Magenta, which Pantone chose as the Colour of the Year 2023. It is a nuanced red tone, balancing between warm and cool. Wondering how you can style the Pantone Colour of the Year 2023 in your interior? Then read on for inspiration!

Also read: The style trends for 2023 in the field of flowers and houseplants

 

Viva Magenta: Colour of the Year 2023

Pantone reveals the year’s colour based on trends in different industries, including interior and fashion. In 2023, that will be Viva Magenta: a brave, dynamic and vibrant hue. It’s a pulsating colour whose exuberance promotes optimism and joy.

 

How to style the Colour of the Year 2023

Viva Magenta is a striking colour but combines easily with other colours. You can easily add an accent colour to your interior with plants, and the same goes for the orchid in this dark red colour. This is already a beauty in itself because the colour matches beautifully with the dark green of the leaves of the plant.

 

 

For example, create a ton-sur-ton effect by styling Viva Magenta with the same shades. Think of light pink, purple or burgundy.

 

 

The Colour of the Year 2023 also combines great with contrasting colours, such as yellow and orange. The result is a cheerful mix that is perfect for spring.

 

 

Do you prefer a calm base? Then opt for light blue, light gray, khaki or taupe. With these natural shades, the Colour of the Year stands out beautifully.

 

Also read: Add colour to your kitchen with the help of orchids

An easy way to add more colour to your kitchen is with the help of orchids. This tropical plant comes in a wide variety of colours. From white to red, and from pink to brown. So there’s always an orchid that fits in your interior! It may be a little less common to place plants in the kitchen, but they can create a completely different atmosphere there too. To show you that, we collected some beautiful images of orchids in the kitchen!

Also read: How to create an orchid jungle

 

Add colour to your kitchen with the help of orchids

Want to keep it subtle? You can give the kitchen a touch of colour with a cheerful orchid on the counter. Bonus: watering has never been so easy!

 

 

Place it in a cute plant pot and you have a unique piece that can stand out! This one looks a bit like a colander, which makes it a perfect fit for the kitchen.

 

 

Choose a simple base and style it with orchids in your favourite colours. Perfect for the holidays or that special dinner with friends and family!

 

 

Combine small and tall plants to give more life to the overall look.

 

 

And if you think more is always better, you can turn your kitchen into an urban jungle!

 

 

Also read: An orchid for every room

Plants are not only beautiful, they boost your concentration too. So they’re ideal for your home office! Does your workspace only consist of a desk and a chair? Then it’s time to make for a make-over! In this article we will share 3 tips that will not only boost your inspiration but also your concentration.

Brighten up your home office with orchids

Houseplants can help purify the air, provide more concentration, focus and productivity. They’re a must for a home office!

A Scandinavian home office

Currently, a Scandinavian home office style is very popular. And since this mainly consists of a lot of natural light, soft colours and natural materials, it’s not strange at all. Because a calm environment ensures that you can get to work without distractions. In addition, with such a calm base you can easily add a colour or item that makes you happy. For example an orchid in your favorite colour!

 

A plant shelf

Whether you have a separate room as a home office or a small desk in the living room or bedroom: plants come in all shapes and sizes. So there’s always something that fits! For example, hang a shelf above your desk and fill it with orchids. Not only does this look cool, it’s also beneficial for your health. Because the more greenery in the house, the better the air quality!

 

 

No room for a shelf full of plants? Then hang a few plants with a plant hanger.

 

 

Use orchids as a room divider

Do you share your home office with someone else or is your desk placed in the living room? Then use a large plant or place a number of orchids together as a room divider. This way you divide a room in two and you have a little more privacy. The leaves still let in enough daylight, so it won’t get harsh.

 

 

Also read: How to create an orchid jungle

Fortunately, the time of only one plant in the windowsill is over. When it comes to plants, ‘the more the better’ applies. And that’s why we’re creating an orchid jungle! A collection of multiple species, that create a burst of colour in the heart of your lush green home! Read on to get inspired.

Create an orchid jungle

In an orchid jungle, the best-looking orchids are grouped together. It’s ideal for homes with little or no outdoor space. This way you simply bring nature inside! And you can go in all directions. Opt for one colour or species, or mix and match different ones. Bundle a few together into one large pot, or style several plants next to one another. And by working with different heights, you can create a playful effect. For example, by using a wooden stool, the windowsill and a plant hanger.

Also read: DIY: plant arrangement with orchids

 

 

Also read: What should you not do with an orchid? 4 tips

 

 

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With autumn just around the corner, it’s time to bring the outdoors in. And plants are the easiest way to do so! Not just by putting down some plants. We’re going to do it a little bit more original, with orchids in autumn colours. Read on for our tips!
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Are you ready for a change in your home, but you don’t feel like a huge makeover or renovation? Fortunately, that’s not necessary to create a different atmosphere in the house. A few small changes to your interior can have a big effect. Read on for some tips on how to update your home with plants! (more…)