Paphiopedilum lowii

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Paphiopedilum lowii?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
Conservatory Greenhouse Houseplants Herbaceous Perennial

A semi-terrestrial, clump-forming, evergreen orchid with narrowly elliptic green fleshy leaves. Flowering stems that measure up to 1m in length, appear from the centre of the leaf rosettes and cary up to 5 flowers. Each flower measures apporximately 8 - 14cm. Pouch is brown, veined; petals are bright yellow-green with purple tips and dark brown spots. Upper sepal is yellow-green, brown-striped.

Position

Partial shade

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H1A

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Orchidaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Clump forming
Genus
Paphiopedilum are mainly terrestrial, and lithophytic or epiphytic. They lack pseudobulbs and produce short stems with strap-shaped leathery leaves. Each shoot ends in a solitary flower or racemes of 2-8 flowers each with a distinctive variably-shaped lip or pouch
Name Status
Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in terrestrial, bark based orchid mix, with added sphagnum moss and perlite, or crushed limestone chips. In summer, provide higher humidity and bright, filtered light. Average summer temperatures are between 20 - 25°C, with winter temperatures falling to 18 - 22°C. Apply fertiliser with every third watering. Avoid heavy misting or overhead watering. As the plant lacks pseudobulbs, it shouldn't be left dry for long time. Water plant as it approaches dryness, but avoid standing in water, or keeping wet for prolonged period. See Paphiopedilum cultivation for more detailed advice.

Propagation

Propagation by seed is only possible in a controlled laboratory environment. Mature plants may be divided when the plant overgrows its container. Each division should have at least 3 healthy, rooted plant rosettes with a suffient amount of stored energy and water, to support new growth and reduce stress after repotting.

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Houseplants
  • Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required. Remove the flower stem after flowering.

Pests

May be susceptible to mealybugs but generally pest free

Diseases

May be susceptible to bacterial rots in the centre of leaf rosettes caused by overhead watering in combination with low temperatures but generally disease-free