"Nick wrote in message .

Much easier to grow than they used to be, obviously becoming
domesticated.
Years ago it was said they needed constant shade in a specialist orchid
hot
house now they appear to be one of the easiest flowering house plants to
grow, well, mature hybrid plants at least.

Was it said or was it true? Some of the things that "everybody says"
are true, many are half-true, and a few are complete codswallop. ((snip))

I believe it was true, it seemed to be, but then originally (and some even
when I started growing orchids) these were wild caught plants and all
species too. I understand the species Phals are still a bit more demanding
to grow well, but some are well worth the effort P. schilleriana can have
dozens of flowers open at once, P.amboinensis is short but can produce a
number of spikes at one time, and P. violacea adds perfume as it's name
suggests but is demanding.

Whilst talking about wild caught orchids, when we were in Hong Kong last
year, I took a look at the Flower Market on Kowloon side and found a couple
of shops selling a Paphiopedilum I had never seen before either at Orchid
shows or in my many books, all the plants were in flower and all were
obviously taken from the wild. Such a shame, probably extinct in the wild
already.

--
Regards
Bob

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