Last year I got some Phrags, actually several. This year I am getting some Rothschildianum Paphiopedilums. The first one has arrived, a Stonii X Roth, so a "Lady Isobel" which will have a white striped dorsal. The full name is Paph Stonei #1 x Rothschildianum (Red Baron x Mighty). It is still a year out till blooming-- sadly they grow so slow. It does have a little leaf coming up where the bloom spike would be but I still do not think it is old enough (still it is very large). The second is a mature Roth, from Norman Fang-- one he recommends as a good grower, and more "vase shaped." This is Hilo Black Eagle (johanna burkhardt ' perfection ' am/aos x rothschildianum ' new horizon' fcc/aos). It is known to be mature size /6 years old-- so no guessing. It may give a first bloom-- not sure of that. Usually, the first blooms are one or two, not the 4 or more usually seen when mature. Also, the Johanna Burkhardts are adductum and Rothchildianum crosses, so they still have some "interspecies" in them. They also have flowers that are about 13 inches across. I should get that one on the 22 of March. So that is my orchid budget blown this year! I've decided that instead of a large amount of less expensive orchids, I would focus on better, mature (thus more expensive) orchids. (Phrags grow like crazy though).

Sorry I don't have any photos.

Katy, it sounds wonderful! Lots of happy anticipation! Be sure to post pics for us when they bloom.

Oh it will still be a few years. I've heard they might have a bloom at 6 years old-- but that is not a certainty. I am more likely looking at needing to wait until they are 8 years old. The Lady Isobel is of unknown age. It is definitely at least a 4-5 year old plant. A black wing has a leaf span of 3 feet from the longest 2 lower leaves across. Apparently, if you can keep them alive until they are blooming, then you have a reliable bloomer every year. Here are a few pictures to compare the forms: Lady Isobel is more white at the top dorsal sepal, and less stripes, a pink labellum. and longer thinner petals. The black wing has a sepal of gold and harsher black, more horizontal and shorter petals, and a more mahogany brown labellum. Both are pretty in their own right. Can you tell which is which? (lady isobel photo from Slipper Talk orchid forum, and black wing from Orchid Roots. )

Looking up your cross
https://apps.rhs.org.uk/hortic...
I am familiar with Paph rothschildianum, it is such a famous Orchid, having bought a plant last year. It is surely still a couple of years away from blooming, when it is good and ready! Not sure if those Phrags or Paphs know the customary 7 years from seed to bloom etc are up
I didn't know what Paph stonei looks like. Just looked at some pics.
If I may - it is hard for me to read the Orchid names in your post, I am used to conventionally written down names of Orchids:
species written lower case, hybrids first letter Capitalized, clonal names 'Capitalized' in single quotes.
It would make it easier for me to follow.

Ursula said:
If I may - it is hard for me to read the Orchid names in your post, I am used to conventionally written down names of Orchids:
species written lower case, hybrids first letter Capitalized, clonal names 'Capitalized' in single quotes.
It would make it easier for me to follow.

I just cut and pasted the names of the orchids from the vendors because I did not want to write them down or mess with remembering the correct way to do it. Considering this website does not allow for italics in posts, both of us are wrong. Also, the complete names are not used in either case.

Alrighty then.

Just so everyone's aware, you can do font styling including italics: https://garden.org/special/pag...

I look forward to seeing your Paphs in bloom when they finally flower, Katy!

Well, I got them, and I also got a Barbatum. It is a non-mottled leaf kind. It is funny that the Barbatum comes from the same area (Malaysia) as the Rothschildianum. That's enough paphs for the year. I also figured out my culture on the Phrag. Waunakee Sunset Cherry that I have. I am going to go with rock wool in this case. I have 4 to 5 (one might not be viable) new growths on that phrag. And it is a tiny phrag. The littlest phrag I have. I think my problem with orchid names is that I tend to capitalize every word in a title, as though it were a book. I keep forgetting that plant names have this other convention. Sorry everyone!!! I will learn eventually!

http://www.orchidspecies.com/p...
I am not familiar with Paph barbatum, so I looked it up. Hmm, regarding the "dark green mottled leaves" mentioned in the link!
I do wonder - image googling this one, I see nicely mottled leaves. Are we looking at the same plant?🤔 I would love to see a picture of yours.

Looking up the parentage of your Phrag Waunakee Sunset 'Cherry'
https://apps.rhs.org.uk/hortic...

https://apps.rhs.org.uk/hortic...
This one has a heavy Phrag besseae parentage. Phrag besseae grows on Limestone hills in Ecuador, constantly washed over by fresh springwater. It might help to add some crushed oyster shell to the medium. Something to consider. Besseae will grow into a good size plant.
Here is a nice link
https://herebutnot.com/caring-...