Paphiopedilum 'David Ott'

RHS Plant Profile

Venus slipper orchid 'David Ott'

RHS

Conservatory Greenhouse

An evergreen, terrestrial orchid with strap-shaped leaves. Flowers borne on long stems have yellow and dark red striped upper petals and yellow side petals spotted dark red with a purplish-red pouch

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: West–facing or East–facing or North–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: Columnar upright
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 an open medium in a shaded position in summer protected from direct sunlight but move to a bright, unshaded position in winter. Maintain high humidity in spring and summer by standing container in a tray of damp pebbles; do not mist. Water regularly in spring and summer, reduce watering in the winter but do not allow compost to dry out completely. Feed regularly with a proprietary orchid fertiliser when in growth but reduce frequency and/or strength of feeding in winter. See indoor orchid cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring when plant has at least six new growths and can be divided into clumps of at least three growths

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be suseptible to aphids, glasshouse red spider mite and mealybugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free