October 2025 Supplementary issue

This year’s annual supplement features a group of orchids that have been steadily gaining in popularity for several years. The slipper orchids comprise five genera, Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium, Mexipedium, Cypripedium and Selenipedium. The first two are the largest genera and the most popular in our collections. Still, the single species Mexipedium xerophyticum is becoming increasingly easier to find and turns out not to be that hard to grow.While lavishly illustrated, the supplement is more than just pictures. Dave Sorokowsky presents easy-to-understand growing information for the sections of Paphiopedilum. Frank Cervera, a Phragmipedium expert, provides indispensable information on growing phragmipediums from Brazilian habitats (very different from the others in the genus) based on 25 years of examining them in the field. Marilyn LeDoux of Windy Hill Orchids explains growing Mexipedium xerophyticum. There are beautiful articles on Paphiopedilum subgenus Brachypetalum, Paphiopedilum bellatulum — including an indispensable article on how to tell Paphiopedilum bellatulum, godefroyae and leucochilum apart, and a novel article on growing phragmipediums in mycorrhizal soil mixtures.  Rounding out the supplement is a how-to article on growing cypripediums in our gardens.