Paphiopedilum helenae

[Jaljala]

Finally something with a pouch is blooming for me...
One flower per year for this plant... far from the one Fibre showed not long ago :sob:
Anyhow, here it is:

 

[abax]

That's one more bloom from helenae than I've gotten
this season...and it's very pretty.

 

[fibre]

What a lovely picture! This is a well presented beautiful jewel!

 

[labskaus]

I second that.

 

[John M]

That's a great photo of a really lovely clone. You've presented it in a really nice pot, too! I love the wide, flaring dorsal sepal and the deep colour of the pouch. Don't despair that it's only got one flower. They all have to start out somewhere. The plant is really strong and healthy; so, it will grow and clump with time. The next time I repot mine, I'm going to add a bit of washed limestone screenings to the mix. If I remember correctly, fibre said he put limestone chips in his helenae mix.

 

[NYEric]

Yes, very healthy plant, lots of potential.

 

[Ozpaph]

very cute

 

[Hamlet]

Wow, great clone and great photos!

 

[garysan]

The next time I repot mine, I'm going to add a bit of washed limestone screenings to the mix. If I remember correctly, fibre said he put limestone chips in his helenae mix.

Yes, he said the same to me and I have a lovely helenae that I got from fibre. The main roots are actually wrapped over a lump of limestone in the pot. Not dissimilar from what that species does in the wild so I've read.

Great looking plant/bloom and beautifully presented and photographed too.

 

[17andgrowing]

Lovely helenae

 

[emydura]

Very pretty.

 

[SlipperFan]

Sweet flower, and with very good color.

 

[Jaljala]

Thank you all for the kind comments.
Yes John you are right about the plant growth, it has started to grow side shoots on old growths since this summer, so I have 4 simultaneous new growths now, finger crossed for multi-blossoms next year!
I reported this plant in pure Orchiata couple of years ago, so it should still have a good dolomite amount in the pot I think , but I have to look for dolomite rock...

By the way the pot is a tea mug I converted, I hot a lot
Of these mugs in a kitchen store and try look great with my Neofinetia collection!

 

[cxcanh]

Very nice, congratulation.