Paph curtisii 'Dark Vader '

[SlipperKing]

Surprisingly dark when it opened. I can only knock the petals being a tad bit skinny, yes?

Outside shot

 

[Ozpaph]

beautiful dorsal colour. Very nice.

 

[DrLeslieEe]

A stunning reddish form!

Petals seem normal size. Looks small only because he’s stretching out rather than hanging down on sides.

 

[Guldal]

Nice!

 

[Happypaphy7]

Nice and dark, indeed! What do the leaves look like on this plant?

 

[GuRu]

'Dark Vader' this name is very appropriate to this marvellous flower.

 

[SlipperKing]

The leaves are beautiful of course!

There is an ever so slight maroon cast to the base of the plant

 

[Guldal]

Those leaves are gorgeous, too! I guess, that if we had been japanese, the leaves alone would have manifolded the price of your clone!

 

[SlipperKing]

The old question what superbiens is versus curtisii. A few years back the true superbiens was rediscovered. I got it from Popow Orchids out of Miami, FL
Here is my version of superbiens

 

[Guldal]

Here is my version of superbiens

Yeah, that looks like the genuine (rediscovered) article!

 

[werner.freitag]

great coloration of the leaves ! Beautiful flower ! Substrate is only pumice ?

 

[SlipperKing]

Its actually still in Quintal Farms original mix. They use these massive pieces of sponge rock. Which I've never been able to find for sale.

 

[Ozpaph]

Looks like rockwool - I cant find it in small cube form either

 

[Ozpaph]

Those leaves are wonderful

 

[GuRu]

Yeahhh, just to see the leaves is worth to grow this plant.

 

[KateL]

Its actually still in Quintal Farms original mix. They use these massive pieces of sponge rock. Which I've never been able to find for sale.

Hi Rick, Just re-reading your post because my “superbiens”, which I now suspect is a curtisii, is blooming for the first time. If I can get it together to snap a photo, I’ll post it, and maybe you can tell me what you think.
However, I wanted to say that I bought a (rather large) bag of the supersized perlite at a hydroponics store. It is considered #4 perlite. It might be worth a check around to your local hydroponics stores, or it looks like you can get it online, if you search for #4 perlite.
Best regards, Kate

 

[Just1more]

Beautiful plant! Love the dorsal, glows!!!

 

[Junglejewel]

The leaves are beautiful of course!View attachment 20373

There is an View attachment 20374 ever so slight maroon cast to the base of the plant

Mine has the exact same

 

[NYEric]

Very nice. Thanks for sharing. I LOVE the foliage of the curtsii but prefer the bloom of the superbiens!!!

 

[Paphman910]

Nice flower, looks like paph ciliolare.