Are you a fan of rare and expensive plants? Paphiopedilum rothschildianum (Gold of Kinabalu Orchid or Rothschild’s slipper orchid) can be best if you care for it correctly. Put your plant in a place with high humidity and bright indirect sunlight. Water it when the top soil dries out and try to fertilize your plants with a ¼ or 1/2 of balanced orchid fertilizer once a month during the growing seasons. keep an eye on pests such as Spider Mites and Mealybugs. Paphiopedilum rothschildianum’s price is up to $5,000 per stem (nearly £4,000).
Keep reading to give you a comprehensive guideline about Paphiopedilum rothschildianum, including its growth and worth. Paphiopedilum rothschildianum is a kind of orchid that belongs to the Orchidaceae family. This species doesn’t have any formal cultivar. it is very popular among people because:
- Paphiopedilum rothschildianum has gorgeous flowers that are long-lasting.
- It is a rare evergreen indoor plant, although it is an expensive and high-maintenance plant.
This rare and expensive flowering plant is also known as the Gold of Kinabalu Orchid, King of the Paphs and Rothschild’s slipper orchid. In the present article, we will give you a comprehensive guideline about caring and all things you are enthusiastic to know. So, let’s not waste time and dive into it.
How much is a Rothschild’s slipper orchid worth?
Gold of Kinabalu Orchid is a rare plant that is considered to be an endangered species. In addition, it is hard to maintain indoor plants too. Hence its price is up to $5,000 per stem (nearly £4,000). So expensive, yeeha?
The appearance of Paphiopedilum rothschildianum?
First, let’s review the appearance of the Gold of Kinabalu Orchid in detail.
How big does a Rothschild’s slipper orchid get?
Rothschild’s Slipper Orchid can grow up to 2 ft in Height and 1.5 ft in width.
The leaves of Rothschild’s slipper orchid.
- Its leaves can grow up to 20 inches in length.
- They are green and sometimes have light grey-green mottles.
- Its strap-shaped leaves are Thick and broad.
The flowers of Rothschild’s slipper orchid.
As you see in the below picture, the flowers have:
- cream petals with purple stripes.
- horizontal white to cream sepals that are spotted with dark purple spots.
- Purplish brown pouches with yellow edges.
Every plant will have 2 to 6 flowers in mid-spring to mid-summer.
Where is the Rothschild’s slipper orchid found?
This plant is native to Northern Borneo. It grows in rainforests around Mount Kinabalu. Hence Paphiopedilum rothschildianum also known as “Gold of Kinabalu Orchid”.
How to care for Paphiopedilum rothschildianum?
Paphiopedilum rothschildianum is an expensive and rare plant with high maintenance. Hence, knowing the perfect way to care for it is very important. In the following of our comprehensive guideline, I will tell you about the pro tips for growing “Gold of Kinabalu Orchid” including:
- Fertilizing
- Light requirements
- Temperature requirements
- Moisture requirements
- Best soil texture
- Watering
- Repotting
- Pest and disease
Let’s get on with it then.
Fertilizing Paphiopedilum rothschildianum
You should fertilize the Gold of Kinabalu Orchid with ¼ or 1/2 of balanced orchid fertilizer (20-20-20).
Pro-tip in fertilizing Paphiopedilum rothschildianum:
- Fertilizing must be performed once a week after watering during growth seasons.
- You should stop fertilizing from last October to February.
- The best kind of water for dissolving the fertilizer is a mixture of rainwater with a small addition of stagnant tap water
Light requirements of Paphiopedilum rothschildianum
The light requirement of Paphiopedilum rothschildianum orchid is between 20000-30000 lux. Hence it needs a bright, filtered light, although the Gold of Kinabalu Orchid is one of the rare plants that can thrive in low light areas too.
If you are a fan of rare plants and seek ones for the dim corners of your house, read the “9 Top Rare low-light Houseplants”.
Temperature requirements of Paphiopedilum rothschildianum
The best average temperature for growing Gold of Kinabalu Orchid is cool to intermediate temperature, it should be between 20 – 25°C in summer and 18 – 22°C in winter. Some species require night chilling.
Moisture requirements of Paphiopedilum rothschildianum
This plant likes high humidity and the ample moisture for its growing ranges from 65-95%. During summer months you should give it higher humidity.
Watering of Paphiopedilum rothschildianum
The best soil for this plant is “Moist and Well Drained”, do you know what is its meaning? When soil is moist without being soggy, we call it “Moist and Well Drained”. For having such soil, the three following factors play critical roles:
- The amount of water
- The pot draining
- The soil texture.
Most plants need about 1 inch of water per week. To ensure pot draining, you should check the pot’s holes and make sure they are open. In the following, we will talk about the best soil texture for Paphiopedilum rothschildianum too.
Hence, the best method for watering Rothschild’s slipper orchid is to let the top soil dry out between watering.
The best soil Paphiopedilum rothschildianum
In the following, you can find three kinds of soil for Paphiopedilum rothschildianum.
- A mixture of fibrous peat (3 parts) + coarse grit (3 parts) + perlite (1 part) + charcoal (1 part).
- A Mixture of dust-free medium-grade bark (3 parts) + coarse grit or perlite (1 part) + charcoal (1 part) + peat moss (1 part)
- Commercial orchid mix.
the benefits of adding a 3-inch layer of mulch to the soil are:
- improving the maintain soil moisture
- increasing the rate of growth of plants
the benefits of adding compost to soil are:
- amending the texture of the soil
- improve water holding
- increase draining capacity
Repotting Paphiopedilum rothschildianum
The best pot for Gold of Kinabalu Orchid repotting:
- Having a good drainage hole
- Accommodating roots and having space for max 2 years of growing.
Pest and disease of Paphiopedilum rothschildianum
The important pests (tiny bugs on plants) and diseases of Paphiopedilum rothschildianum are:
Pro tips to Cut flowers of Paphiopedilum rothschildianum
- Select long-stem flowers for tall crystal pots and short-stem flowers float in a bowl.
- The best time to cut flowers is early in the morning.
- Always use a sharp knife or pruners.
- Plunge flowers’ stems into a bucket of water immediately.
- To prevent flowers from opening until ready to work with them, store them in a cool place.
- To avoid rotting the flower’s stems, re-cut stems, change water and washing vases frequently.
What are the interesting facts about Paphiopedilum?
In the following you will find out several interesting facts about Paphiopedilum Rothschildianum:
- IUCN is listed this rare plant as a critically endangered plant species.
- This species was published by Jean Jules Linden in 1887.
- The Paphiopedilum rothschildianum is named after Ferdinand James von Rothschild. This family are famous because of their philanthropy and their work in horticultural science.
- One of its common names is the Gold of Kinabalu Orchid because its original habitat is the Kinabalu mountains.
- Another common name for Paphiopedilum rothschildianum is Rothschild’s slipper orchid because the flowers of the genus Paphiopedilum have a unique floral pouch that is similar to a slipper.
- They are one of the best rare plants for low-light rooms.
Conclusion
You got familiar with one of the rarest plant species: Paphiopedilum rothschildianum. You found out it is also known as the Gold of Kinabalu Orchid, King of the Paphs and Rothschild’s slipper orchid. You get this plant is a critically endangered species and is so expensive. You also learned how to care for and grow Paphiopedilum rothschildianum.
Did you have one of them? how much did you buy it? what do you do to care about it? Do you know other points to care for this plant that aren’t mentioned in this article? Please share your ideas and experiences with our readers below this page.
Elahe Rabiei
Hi, I’m Elaheh. My Academic major is plant protection, and houseplants are my expertise. As a houseplant lover, my house is full of indoor plants and it is my passion to take care of them. Hence, I’m here to share my knowledge and experience about growing healthy houseplants. I am also a plant protection advisor, so feel free to ask me any questions you may have.