Cyma Orchids, Corp. products

The Slipper Orchid: Paphiopedilums are the Old World relatives of North American temperate- zone lady's-slipper orchids, the cypripediums. Perhaps no other orchid excites the same dedication as do these semiterrestrials. And, happily, "paphs" are one of the best orchids for home growing, requiring only fairly bright light and normal home temperatures to provide some of the orchid kingdom's longest-lasting and most exotic blooms. There are classically several general types of paphiopedilums requiring slightly different cultural regimes, though all should do well with the general care instructions given here. Slipper orchids can last eight to 10 weeks or more in bloom.

The Spray Orchid: Dendrobiums are among the most commonly encountered orchids in the retail trade. Like most other cultivated orchids, dendrobiums are epiphytes, or air plants. They have well-developed water-storage organs (pseudobulbs), often called "canes" for their upright, leafy appearance. They should be potted in porous, free-draining media. There are many different types of dendrobiums available to the specialist grower. However, hybrids involving Den. phalaenopsis are what you will most often encounter.