I read in a book recently that Paphiopedilums are good beginner/intermediate species to work with. Any thoughts on this? I'm thinking of trying one as my next orchid (think I caught the bug), and have been eyeing a P. venustum available from a local orchid nursery.

All my experience so far has been with Phalaenopsis and one Oncidium (still doing well).

TK, the plant speaks to you, I would say go for it! It is a charming Orchid!
Some conditions here -
http://www.orchidspecies.com/p...

Maybe Ill just go for it and try it out. All my others have been doing well so far. Will just have to decide whether to put it in a window or under my artificial lighting with my P. hieroglyphica and Oncidium.

My Paphs sit in a bright spot in the greenhouse during the Winter, in Summer outside a bit more protected.
BigBill grows them under lights.
The thread "Growing Orchids Under Lights" in Orchids forum
Choices....

Well, sounds like they're flexible, which is nice.

I don't consider paphs as "easy." They are a challenge, as any other orchid. If you can keep it alive for a year, often that means you have learned the "trick" to it.

There is a lot about "descriptions" of the culture that are misleading to new-comers-- in simply how they are worded-- A terrestrial orchid is not an orchid that is somehow planted in the ground. It is an orchid that is planted in a foot of leaf litter under trees, and many are wedged in rock faces-- so lithophyte with a smidge of mud. It happens to be on the ground, but it is more like an epiphyte. (Have you ever had Hens and Chicks?). Also things about the lighting are not "obvious." Says Norman Fang about a Rothchildianum Paphiopedilum, it takes stronger sun until the hottest part of the year where you need to move it to where it gets "almost phal light."

I personally think the "easiest" orchid is a Prosthechea cochleata or radiata. (But you need agrow light for those). In fact, you need a good growlight for many orchids because most people do not know what "low light" means to orchids. Human eyes and photosynthesis have different opinions on what "low light" is.

Not that it matters, but paphs are also more expensive because while other orchids are (often) grown through cell culture, making each one a "clone" of its parents, paphs are grown only from seed so each paph is an individual. Some take many years, up to 7-8 years to get to blooming size. So you need patience. (Don't buy a seedling unless you can wait 5 years). The thing that kills orchids is too little light or too much water (Unless you are Phragmipediums). I would actually recommend a Phrag over a Paph as the easier orchid to grow. Something small like a Richterii cross. A little pink one. I do think venustums are beautiful. I had one once.

I had to look up Phrag richteri. It is a natural hybrid of boissierianum × pearcei.
Easy to grow? Maybe. Let's just say I have seen pearcei in Ecuador/in its habitat. I was smitten with it and was hoping to duplicate its natural condition, on river banks and sometimes totally submerged. I bought a plant. 6 years later - never saw a bloom. Is the hybrid easier? Hmm.

Oops, I went to check on the pearcei and it must have kicked the bucket at one point. I am looking instead at the diminutive Phrag schlimii. Would be nice to see blooms on that one too one of these days.

Ursula said: I had to look up Phrag richteri. It is a natural hybrid of boissierianum × pearcei.
Easy to grow? Maybe. Let's just say I have seen pearcei in Ecuador/in its habitat. I was smitten with it and was hoping to duplicate its natural condition, on river banks and sometimes totally submerged. I bought a plant. 6 years later - never saw a bloom. Is the hybrid easier? Hmm.

Phragmipedium richteri would be a good one to get. I always think if you are a total beginner who hates losing plants, then get a hybrid first, then jump into species plants.
I keep them in a semi-hydroponic situation all year long. See pictures. I have to do this because my environment is so arid. If you are in a humid place with plenty of rain, you will not need to do this unless it is your choice. This is a Grande cross so it is big. The inner jar is a mayonnaise jar, and the outer jar comes from hobby lobby. Change out the water every week in warm weather. This is filthy because it gets algae on it. Kovachii is a plant that is totally different as far as phrag care. I have had two and killed both quickly (within a month).

I have a few rules I follow with both phrags and paphs. Never buy a seedling. Save your money up and get a mature plant. A reputable grower can tell you how old a plant is. They will die incredibly fast if you get a seedling. Paphs especially will die fast as seedlings. (Cattleyas on the other hand are okay to buy that way). Rule 2 is get your plants from a reputable grower (not a drop shipment e-bay guy). Know the difference between a grower and a backyard breeder, and a seller. I'm not rich and have gotten several divisions from Chuck Acker, including one of his own plants.

Watch/listen to Norman Feng, and also Ed's Orchids on YouTube. They know a lot about culture.

Phrag kovachii was discovered growing on Lime stone hills, I am guessing conditions are not far from that of Phrag besseae. There are natural springs of fresh water running down those tall slopes. I suspect, these plants are intolerant of stagnant water. Also, it might not be a bad idea to eat some Oysters, clean the shells and placing pieces on top of the medium.
Btw, coming back to Phrag richteri -
I repeat "I had to look up Phrag richteri. It is a natural hybrid of boissierianum × pearcei." No Phrag Grande involved here.
I keep a Goldfish pond, so in Summer I was floating the Phrag pearcii in this special island, where it got super well watered and pampered. I thought that might keep it happy.

I like this report on Phrag kovachii
https://www.aos.org/AOS/media/...