I am new to the Slipper Orchid Forum, found the link on the aos forum. I have been lost for hr's, looking at all the lovely photos of all your Paphiopedilum and Phragmipedium.

I am a windowsill grower with 9 Phragmipedium and 16 Paphiopedilum. + Many Phalaenopsis and others too.

The Phragmipedium I purchased in 2001 in small 3" pots man did they ever grow.

Most of the Paphiopedilum I grow all flower well, all but 2… they are Paphiopedilum Saint Swinthin, and Paphiopedilum Landmark.

Both of these plants are 6 years old. The Saint Swinthin grows like a weed and has about a good 24" leaf span. The Landmark has about an 8 to 10 inch leaf span. Both have never flowered as of yet.

I was reading someplace that the Saint Swinthin might need a drop in temps in the fall to set flowers is this true and if so how cold does it need to be.

I drop the temps for my Phalaenopsis, but the Saint Swinthin shows no sign of flowering yet.

As for the Landmark it hardly even grows, Seams to stay just like it is for years now.

The Landmark is growing in bark mix, I have tried it in nz moss but it did not seam to like it. But Saint Swinthin seam to grow just fine in a basket of nz moss. They both get enough light so I don't think light is the trouble.

Maybe I should just be more patient and they will flower in good time. :confused: But any tips would be helpful.

Photos of my Slipper Orchids can be found at www.orchidspot.com

Hi, Laura!

Welcome to the Slipper Orchid Forum!

Large multifloral Paphs like Paph St Swithin requires very bright light to bloom and a 10 degrees temp drop at night. Your plant may not be receiving adequate light, so give it some more. Your Landmark has sanderianum as a parent and sands are slow growing plants.

Hope this helps!

Laura , May I ask how many growths are there on your St.Swithin and Landmark ??

The Paph Saint Swithin has 3 growths one of 24" one of 18" and a new small one about 6". as for the Paph. Landmark it has one growth, never grows any thing new just sets there.

Be patient....St Swithin needs to have several large growths before flowering. One day it will surprise you...the spikes develop very quickly...and St. Swithin is probably the easiest Roth cross to bloom...even I bloomed it once! Landmark is also surprisingly easy to bloom, and will bloom on a single growth. Yours sounds blooming size, so it may spike at any time. The spikes also develop very quickly. Landmark does not require as high light as St Swithin....Take care, Eric

All seems to be blooming size and may spike very soon ! Just wait for a while and you will get your reward less than a year ! Good luck !

What time of year is the St. Swithen supposed to bloom?

When does a St Swithin bloom?

When it wants too!

But generally spring is the time of greatest blooming activity for most multiflorals. That said, my St Swithin once bloomed in January and I had another hybrid (Pinocchio x lowii) bloom last fall.

I also read in another post somewhere that letting roth and roth hybrids get a little dryer in the winter helps encourage blooming. I tried this (accidentally) with my Paph Cooksonii (roth x druryii) and it's in bloom, now.

Good luck, it sounds like you have good healthy plants that should eventually reward you with blooms.

What time of year is the St. Swithen supposed to bloom?

They bloom whenever the matured growths are ready to, under the right conditions. They usually bloom around like paphreek said, late winter to spring.

Sally - (I sold my 2nd St. to Sally! LOL!)
How's that St. doing? Do you have new starts? Mine has two, one growing rather quickly. So, I've been peering into the deep lately looking for signs of sheaths also!

I was just thinking about our Saints last night, actually! Hope your's is doing well!

Hi Heather, the St. S. is doing great. Just impatiently looking for buds as I do with all of them. Sally

Hey Sally - a member here, Terp, has another "sibling" the same as ours, I think we are all in the same boat. Will be interesting to see who's blooms first. I'd guess they'd be ready any time now, but who knows w/ everyone's culture being different. :confused: