Paphiopedilum wardii

Paphiopedilum wardii Summerh. is a mottled-leaved, terrestrial Paphiopedilum native to southwestern Yunnan, China, and Myanmar, generally occurring around 1,200–1,500 m elevation in wet tropical habitats.

It is an attractive species with bluish-green mottled foliage and large flowers. The flowers can reach approximately 8.5–12.8 cm across, with a white dorsal sepal marked by green veins, greenish-white petals heavily flushed and spotted with brown-purple, and a greenish to ochre pouch with fine brown spotting.

Care Tips:

• Light: Provide moderate, filtered light. Around 1,000–2,000 foot-candles is generally suitable for Paphiopedilums. Avoid strong direct midday sun.
• Watering: Keep the medium evenly moist but not saturated. Avoid allowing the roots to remain completely dry for extended periods.
• Growing Medium: Use a moisture-retentive but well-draining Paphiopedilum mix, such as fine or medium bark combined with perlite and sphagnum. Good drainage is essential.
• Humidity: Moderate humidity is sufficient, but good air movement becomes increasingly important as humidity rises.
• Temperature: As a mottled-leaf Paphiopedilum, it generally prefers intermediate to warm conditions, around 21–29°C (70–85°F) during the day and approximately 13–22°C (55–72°F) at night.
• Fertilizing: Feed regularly with a diluted balanced orchid fertilizer. Flush the medium periodically to prevent fertilizer-salt accumulation.
• Airflow: Provide gentle, continuous airflow, especially in warm or humid conditions.
• Repotting: Repot about every two years or whenever the medium begins to decompose. Use a relatively small pot and avoid unnecessarily disturbing the roots.
• Flowering: Stable moisture, moderate light and regular nutrition help the plant develop strong flowering growth.