The world smallest paphi, Paphiopedilum helenae, (which I mentioned before) came on Tuesday from Germany.  It is so small and cute.  Now I understand why these miniatures  called “Teacup orchids”: they are so small and charming, that you can really grow them in china teacups.

This is young plant, so it not flowering yet, in fact it could take about 1-2 years. Usually this species bloom in late summer and fall and I don’t believe that flowering occurs in this year. But flower worth the wait and growing it to flowering size is a little challenge too. Surely I’d rather buy soon flowering size paphis, but this species I didn’t found.  Most other plants I don’t care, if they are young or mature.

I buy young - not flowering size - Paphiopedilums only in two reason:  Flowering size is rarely available or it is (too) expensive.  Often, not always, these things go hand in hand. But in last winter I bought young paphi only because it was lot cheaper than flowering size. This albino form in flowering size cost, on an average, 150 euros which is now about 240 USD. It isn’t so rare species, but it takes a little longer to grow to a blooming size. So now I just growing and waiting and haven't any idea how many years it takes. Fortunately I have lot of plants so it doesn't really matter when few paphis going to flower. But I'm happy when and if it happens

For beginners it isn’t very wise to buy young paphis because some species it can easily take even 10 years to flower and I’m quite sure that most novices haven’t  the patience. In this time while waiting for flower, beginner also have a “great opportunity” to make failures with these plants before they know the requirements. So if you don't know nothing about paphi you're going to get, don't try to save. Purchase flowering size plant, although it is little more expensive,  then you have greater chance that the plant survive to flower.

In same package with my new “teacup paphi” came also few other orchids.  I also get another parcel, few new Hoyas (Wax plant) from Italy. I should have get one big package from Sweden too, but I didn’t yet. I’m little concerned, because usually these plant packages from Sweden to Finland come inside two working days,  but this one has been on the way since Monday. I know this seller pack plants well, but still, week is a long time and now I can only wait and hope that my new beauties are fine where ever they are now…

I also collect plants belong  to the Amaryllis family, so I just bought green flower Clivia from Belgium. It should come in next week, so I update this blog when it comes. I hope, that I also have good news to tell about Swedish package then

It’s been a long time…   Well, now I try to continue

Paphiopedilum  ‘Clair de Lune’  is one of worlds most beautiful green Paphiopedilum-hybrids. I had searched it for a while and finally in late winter, I found it in Germany 
(of course in Germany;  I have found all my best orchids in there).
And now this beauty starts blooming. It is sooo beautiful. The flower is 12 cm (5 in.) in diameter,  bright green and white


 I have been collecting orchids about ten years. This and that at first, but now I collect species of few genus only. My newest interest are those Paphiopedilums, common name Slipper Orchids, also called Lady’s Slipper, because the lip of the flower is slipper-shaped. In Finland (also in Sweden as well in Germany) we called these orchids by name  which mean “Venus’s shoe”. I have about 40 different Paphiopedilums.  

There are five genus, which all called Slipper Orchids, but division is clear: Paphiopedilum are from southeast Asia, Phragmipedium from Mexico down into South America and Cypripedium from arctic and temperate climates of the northern hemisphere. Genus Mexipedium have only one species which have been found only in one place in Mexico. There is also genus Selenipedium from Central and South America, but usually not used in cultivation. Many of Slipper Orchids are threatened in the wild due to over-collection. 

For collectors there are thousands of alternatives - if counting hybrids too - so I collect Paphipedilum species and hybrids, which haven’t any red in flowers.  In practice only possible colors for me are green, yellow and  fall tones. White is also allowed. But green paphis I like most. Frequently  green paphis are albino forms of various species, so they are most rare and thus most valuable.

Past few months I have searched worlds smallest Slipper Orchid, Paphiopedilum heleane, and I just found it in last week – surprise: in Germany! It should be coming any day now.

By the way: Clair de Lune means Moonlight. Clair de Lune is also one of Claude Debussy’s most famous piano pieces and it happens to be also my favorite

In Finland our darkest period, autumn has began. Autumn and winter are not only dark but also cold in Northern Europe, therefore indoor plants are only which can flower from autumn to spring. What we have here indoor, elsewhere same plants can grow outdoors. Even it is little bit harder to grow them indoor as a pot plant, plants are still the same all over the world.

I have lot of plants (please, don't ask me count them  ) so maybe I can write a blog about my flowering or another way interesting house plants. Not all, I have too many for that, but some of them.  Besides, many plants have fascinating history.  And when writing, I also get good exercise for my English in the same. I know it isn't perfect, but if everyone who are interested in this understand what I mean, it isn't  remarkable. Still I hope it's getting better


And here it starts

What could be better way to start this than orchid.  And not just any orchid: spectacular Rossioglossum grande  (aka Odontoglossum grande).

It was outdoor  in my garden all the summer and I took it inside early September when we have few really cold nights. Couple of weeks ago I noticed few buds and  it started to open its blossoms on last Friday. 
Flowers  are  12-20cm (5-8in) wide and unique in the orchid family.  It is called  the Tiger Orchid because the striping and flower coloring. 

Usually I don't  like this kind multicolor flowers, but this orchid is "must" for all hobbyist and on the other hand, this flower is impressive and also funny when you look carefully.  In some regions this is known as the Clown Orchid, referring to the life-like shape at the centre of the flower.

This species natural habitat is from 1500 to 3000 meters (4500-9000 ft) high, cool, misty mountains in South-Mexico and Guatemala. Its Latin name Rossioglossum grande derived from the name of John Ross, who collected orchids in Mexico and Guatemala in 1830-1840 and from word "glossa" which means lip and refer this flower huge central lip. Name "grande" means simply  "great".  All the hobbyist knows this species and it is easy to grow. I have also other orchids;  precisely 50 now when 2 new plants came today...



The second plant I introduce is Hoya australis – can you imagine, common name is waxflower and in several countries people called this by name which mean porcelain flower !! Seriously, I don't think I need to explain where the nickname  comes.

Genus Hoya (qiu lan shu) was named by botanist Robert Brown in 1810, in honor of his friend, botanist Thomas Hoy, who worked as head gardener for the Duke of Northumberland in England.  I collect this genus  and  today I have 183 different Hoyaspecies.  True, I'm waiting few new cuttings I just bought  from Germany, Netherland and Sweden…

Hoya australis is rainforest climber from eastern Australia. It is native also in Tonga and Samoa, and has been  found Fiji Islands and Southeast Asia too. This species was found first time in 1770, when captain Cook with Sir Joseph Banks (famous botanist)  and Daniel Solander (Swede scientist) landed in Cape Crafton in north-east Queensland coast. Captain James Cook  had a mission, to find  the unknown southern land - "Terra Australis Incognita".  But it is another story.


Naturally, this beautiful vine has no name then. Hoya australis described and named its current name until 1830.   Species name australis don't necessarily mean  that it is from "Australia"; Latin word australis mean "southern".  Also  the name "Australia" is derived from the same Latin word "Australis".

Hoya australis is attractive vining  hoya -  my plant is about six years old, quite big and blooms right now, second time. Last time was about year ago. It have lot of umbels and flowers last one or two weeks. Often said that the flowers of this species produces a spicy fragrance, but for me its odor reminds Common Lilac.


This Hippeastum hybrid  is manmade cultivar, named 'Giraffe'. It opened its flowers last Saturday. This is medium flowering, flowers are smaller than most Hippeastrum, only 12cm (5in) across. Still I like its red-green color, I think it is charming.  Also this one spent the summer  in my garden. 
I collect this genus (surprise ) but also other genus belong in the same family - now I have 62 plants from that family.   And I  just ordered 12 (!) more…  I'm not quite sure, if I get them all  and when I get them, few are coming from England and the current UK Postal strike may delay deliveries.

This genus is native to tropical and subtropical regions from Argentina north to Mexico and Caribbean. These are bulbous plants, so plant don't need lot of space (haha).  These hybrids are popular but often confused with the Amaryllis which is an African genus of same family.  In other words, real Amaryllis is from Africa, usually similar-looking Hippeastrum is from Latin America. Name Hippeastrum come from the Greek "hippos", which mean horse. And how horse associated with this flower? Well, it is another story – long one  -  which, by the way, I'm going to tell later


Here also blooms just now few Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, "Da Hong Hua" (also called Zhu Jin and Fu Sang) , common names Chinese Hibiscus and Rose of China.  This species is native to southeastern  Asia and it has  several traditional medicinal uses.  In parts of India the flowers are also used to shine shoes and they called it Shoe Flower. The juice of the Hibiscus petals and flowers was used as a dye by the Chinese to blacken the eyebrows and hair. In Malaysia Hibiscus flowers are used as a food dye in colouring toddy, agar-agar jellies, pineapple slices and cooked vegetables. It is national flower of Malaysia

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is perhaps the best known tropical shrub and flower in the world. It is common in  tropical or sub-tropical gardens  and as a house plant through out the world. Hawaii has earned the reputation of being the world centre for evolving magnificent varieties of hibiscus through hybridization. There are thousands of varieties  and  all the other colors are available except real blue, green and black. Depending on varieties the flowers are 10-20 cm  (4-8in) across and last only for a day.

Double red was first which identified in year 1753  and is therefore progenitor to all nowadays cultivars. Crosses between it and other species therefore carries also the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis name. Its name come  from  the Greek words Hibiscus meaning "mallow" and rosa-sinensis meaning "rose of China". But it isn't rose at all, it is a member of Mallow Family.  And no, I don't collect these...

Of course here blooms several other plants too, but I can't present all of them. Let's see, what I can offer in the next time. And before anyone asks: yes, I have studied Latin long time ago