Lindsey, what a haul. Hope you had your fire retardant shopping shoes on. Yesterday I made our reservations and bought the tickets for the Santa Barbara Orchid Show in March. Biggest on this coast. Going to make a weekend out of it.
Here is Paph. wardii. It has the original tag from Andy's. Dated 7/18/2016. Bloomed right from the start and never fails.

Wow, some gorgeous new ones for your collection, Lindsey. That's a very pink version of 'Copper Queen' isn't it! We've seen yellow versions and more peachy or copper ones as well, but never with that much pink before. Be interesting to see if it changes colors under your care.

Lindsey, what gorgeous loot! Such beautiful plants! ❤️❤️

Ted, nice Paph !

Ya'll are a bad influence and it's January to boot which means I'm bored and shopping. Checking out minis on Andy's Orchids. Something to hang in bathroom in front of window and stays small and won't get in faces. Too many choices there!!

Lindsey that yellow one is stunning. I hope you find the name (and share it with us).

My Andy's order is going in tomorrow - it only has 3 plants... so far Sedirea japonica, Gastrochilus calceolaris and Cischweinfia glicensteinii.

I've been looking really hard at Paph Paradise too. I'm in love with a couple of them. One is Paphiopedilum hirsutissumum var. esquirolii ('Gold Country' x 'Lehua's JEM' AM/AOS). I'm intrigued by the color and the ruffle.

with everyone! My favorites are Cattleyas and Vandas. But for now I'm just happy to have blooming Vandas and Phals.

Nice plants you picked, Lucy. I have never purchased from Paph Paradise. Any body here have experience with them. They seem a little pricey.

Yes, I have.
Well, they can seem a bit pricey at first glance. But I feel that it is all relative. In general, the demand can be astronomical on some of these plants but the supply is low. Well, somewhere between low and 'not readily' available.
Besides divisions, the Paphiopedilums produce much lower seed counts Ted. When you go through the pollination, flasking, compot process, the costs are not cheap. However some produce dozens of seedlings from a cross rather then the thousands produced by say, Cattleyas.

In my experience, Paphs and Phrags take good light and lots of watering. Mine are planted in bark.

Lucy68 said: In my experience, Paphs and Phrags take good light and lots of watering. Mine are planted in bark.

Similarly here. My Phrags actually sit in saucers to keep hydrated. And I lay some chopped Oyster shells on top of the medium/ incorporate. Having observed some Phrags in their natural habitat - on a steep limestone hill, washed over by constant natural Springs.

You're right. A couple of mine have marble chips mixed into the bark.

Well, I have never had much luck with Phrags. I have to be totally honest. With my limited amount of growing space, I don't think I can afford to keep them around.
For 4 years in Detroit, going on five, I just do not get the flower production that I had originally hoped for. I would say around 1/3 of my 30 some odd Phrags bloomed regularly. That just was not good enough. I have been slowly weeding them out. The only ones I have kept are about 12 smaller, more compact hybrids featuring schlimii or besseae in the background. They comfortably fit under lights.
When I compare them to novelty Phalaenopsis where 75-80% of them bloom on a regular basis, there is no comparison in my mind. I really prefer not to waste limited space on things that do not bloom. It is kind of like "growing a salad bar".
That's why I experiment with other things. Currently Bulldog Paphiopedilums are in my 'blooming proto calls'. I want to see how they do compared to Phrags.
Years ago there was a time in a 350 square foot greenhouse where I had the room to be forgiving, but not anymore. But there is another point to consider, trying new plants, trying new hybrids, keeps the ole brain stem active . Learning by looking, trying out new things keeps me going, keeps me moving!

This is an example of what I like to grow. This is Bc. Hippodamia. It is a cross of Brassavola nodosa by Cattleya aclandiae. I just love the spotting of this cross. The parents are two of my favorite species. I have two clones under lights at the moment, this one and another that is supposed to be darker. Yes, it is fragrant. I can't put my finger on the fragrance except to say it seems spicey!

pepper23 said: Ya'll are a bad influence and it's January to boot which means I'm bored and shopping. Checking out minis on Andy's Orchids. Something to hang in bathroom in front of window and stays small and won't get in faces. Too many choices there!!

I like mini's too. They don't take up a lot of space. And for a small bloom they always make a huge statement.

Catpaworchids said: Yes, I have.
Well, they can seem a bit pricey at first glance. But I feel that it is all relative. In general, the demand can be astronomical on some of these plants but the supply is low. Well, somewhere between low and 'not readily' available.
Besides divisions, the Paphiopedilums produce much lower seed counts Ted. When you go through the pollination, flasking, compot process, the costs are not cheap. However some produce dozens of seedlings from a cross rather then the thousands produced by say, Cattleyas.

I agree, Nick. I don't mind paying a little more if I know the grower from experience, or I get good referrals. Like from this group. Have you ever purchased from them?

Yes. I have purchased plants from Paph Paradise before. I think once a year for the years 2020-2022. I don't think I ordered in 2023. No particular reason. I was quite pleased with every purchase.

Lately I have purchased plants on line, mostly through e-bay. I basically find I have two methods. I could either purchase a plant by bidding on something in an on-line auction. However, I got caught up and paid more for a few things then I should have. So I no longer do auctions.
The other option I use is known as 'buy it now'. You just agree to pay the posted price and shipping is typically free.
I have never been disappointed with any plant that I purchased. They all had photographs so I could see the exact plant that I am buying. If a seller does not include a picture of the entire plant, I do not buy it.

I should add that I no longer mail order plants from a grower. You know this entire BS or NBS nonsense drives me crazy sometimes. Many times their NBS actually means"maybe you will bloom it in a few years!" BS may or may not mean 'bloom within a year'.
But I e-bay, I see the photograph of the exact plant I am buying, no disappointments. I get what I pay for.
To be honest, I rarely buy at a show anymore. I find myself comparing everything I see to what e-bay vendors are offering. But H&R went out of business about 4 or 5 years ago and I have not mailed order since then.

Now I just love to grow more compact Cattleyas. I posted Bc. Hippodamia above and now this plant. This is Bc. Theresa Ricci. It is Hippodamia back onto Cattleya aclandiae. So I think you get slightly wider petals and apparently more intense color. I think that this plant is cool looking.
I have had it about two years.

I like the Bc Hippodamia very much and this backcross is very attractive too. Hippodamia is a good bloomer with a nice color change!

Thanks!
I normally do not grow cute orchids but these are really nice.