Meet Morris, the Pug of My Orchid Collection

Morris, a paphiopedilum hybrid

This past weekend, I attended the Massachusetts Orchid Show, which never fails to amaze. Some of the prize-winning orchids had flower spikes that were taller than I am, and as usual, I was introduced to a bunch of different orchid types I’d never seen or heard of before. Going to these orchid shows is like being a kid in a candy store—that is, if candy were a lot more expensive and required maintenance! 

The experience of shopping for a new orchid at the show was a bit like going to a shelter to find a new pet. I didn’t have anything in mind going in, and I wanted to see what orchids spoke to me, kind of like how a kitten or puppy might chew your finger or pull your shoelaces and then you have no choice but to take it home. At the first table I stopped at, an orchid caught my eye. It was very strange-looking, and its bloom was tilted up, almost like it was raising its face for a kiss. It reminded me of a pug—it’s so ugly it’s cute. I went to all the other tables, but I came back to this orchid, and now it’s sitting next to me on my desk as I type this. I named it “Morris.”

Paph Leeanum (photo credit: Elias Rovielo via Flickr)

Morris is a paphiopedilum hybrid. Paphiopedilums (often abbreviated to “paph”) are also called “Venus Slippers,” and they share similarities with lady’s slipper orchids. Like lady’s slippers, paphs are terrestrial, so they grow in the ground, rather than on trees like phalaenopsis and most other orchids. Unlike lady’s slippers, which can be found in colder climates such as New England, paphs are native to Southeast Asia, India, and the Pacific Islands. Because they’re terrestrial, one can plant paphs in bark, soil, or sphagnum moss (or best of all, a mix of all of them). Paphs in bark will require more watering and paphs in moss require a little less, though once a week is a good starting point. As with other orchids, paphs want a thorough watering and draining. 

Paph fairrieanum (Creative Commons 4.0)

Paphs live on the ground, so by the time light reaches them, it’s fairly diffuse. Thus, they’re among the lower-light orchids and require less sun than a phalaenopsis or cattleyas. An east-facing window is perfect; lightly shaded west or south-facing windows would work too. Paphs don’t have any special temperature requirements, though like other orchids, they require humidity. And as with other orchids,  colder nighttime temperature will help induce blooming, which usually happens in the fall. 

Morris’ close-up glamor shot

One reason Morris spoke to me is because I don’t have any other orchids with variegated (multicolored) leaves. The leaves also have a different texture from other orchid leaves—they’re softer and velvetier. My very favorite feature of Morris’ is the little hairs sticking up from the leaves. Paphs grow these hairs to replicate the types of insects that attract pollinators (usually hoverflies) in the wild. I also love the spots and striping on the leaves, as well as the veins and markings on the slipper itself. This is one of those plants that makes me applaud Mother Nature and all her beautiful, glorious weirdness.