A group of Parvisepalum and the culture of them ( No. 4)

(3)The central east area in the Indochinese 　Peninsula, Viet Nam. 　
　　　　　　　　　　　　････ Paph. delenatii

Paph. delenatii

The history of Re-discovering Paph. delenatii
　It is only two times to find Paph. delenatii in nature before. The first record was from Tonkin, the north area i Viet Nam. Mr. delenat whose name is the origin for the species name introduced this new species in Europe in 1913 and recorded in the horticultural journal in France in 1914 by Mr. A. Guillaumin. But unfortunately, this plant was disappeared in the world war��. After that, another plant was discovered from Nha Trang in the middle area, Viet Nam in 1922 again. Soe one said, this plant must be come from Tonkin also in truth. After the second discovery, nobody can not find Paph. delenatii in nature. On the other hand, in Viet Nam , the nature was destroyed completely by the Viet Nam War for over 10 year. Almost of all Paph. fans around world must be think Paph. delenatii in Viet nam is not any more. The plants of Paph. delenatii that we grow in our green house came from the seedling of the offsprings made by E. Gunzenhauer in 1970.
　In the end of 1980, the rare species that are said to be disappeared in nature like Paph. rothschildianum and Paph, sanderianum was re-discovered again from Borneo Island. And now , Paph. delenatii was re discovered again and the strip vale of their aura of mystery.
　In truth, there is a arson who continue to have a dream of finding Paph. delenatii trough the War i Viet Nam. And finally, he, Mr. Tran Kim Khu in Ho Chi Mhin city has found Paph. delenatii in December, 1992 from the area of Nha Trang. At the first, he found one of Brachypetalum in the collected species and he sow the flower, Paph. delenatii's flower in June, 1993. Almost of all Paph. fans were thinking that Paph. delenatii distribute in the north area in Viet Nam but in truth, they was found in the middle or south area in Viet Nam. After finding out the species, the another problems were coming out. One is the collection of them too many from mountains and another is the exporting them illegally. Paph. delenatii live in good long period safety in jungle. But now, the peace for them was broken suddenly. It is true that Viet Nam is the mother country for Paph. delenatii. I hope, the collected plants in Viet Nam should be the smallest amount and make seedlings by self cross or sibling cross. It is no problem to export the artificially propagated seedlings in flask officially. It is very beautiful to export the flasks of Paph. delenatii 's seedlings from Viet Nam, the mother country.
　Change the subjects, Paph. delenatii distribute in the south central area, near the border to Laos and Cambodia. In this area, very high mountains range extended to near by the sea. And it is surprised that the plants was discovered in E Lam Thuong, between Ninh and Hoa province. They grow about 700 ~ 900 m from sea level and along the river and expand their root into moss growing in the rock's crevice or into leaf mold. The area is covered with trees about 10 m tall and they don't get the direct sun light but it is very bright in the reflected sun light. In this area, it is rainy season from April to December. Sometimes, it continue to rain for a week. And it is so high humidity. It is the hottest in July and August. At the area about 700 ~ 900 m from sea level, the Max. tem. is 25~30 ℃　and at the foot of mountains , it is over 40 ℃. On the other hand, it is dry season and cool from December to March.Especially, in December and January, the Min. tem is 15 ~ 18 ℃. It is high humidity in a year. In the morning and evening, the area is covered by dense fog every day. In nature, the flower of Paph. delenatii will come in rainy season, from may to August. Especially, May and June is the best season for flower especially just before the heavy raining season.
Brief cultivation of Paph. delenatii
　For growing Paph. delenatii, it is desirable to keep plants at the higher tem. ,16 ~ 20 ℃ and in high humidity. And also, they like fertilizer very well. As they are very strong fro fertilizer, you may give it much slightly. But in our artificial condition mentioned above, it is very easy to be disease. We have to prepare fan enough and medicine for decease and insects. Someone say, they need the lower tem. for flowering but there is no problems for flowering to keep 20 ℃ in a year from my experience. In this meaning, the character of Paph. delenatii is different from other species of Parvisepalum growing in China and in north Viet Nam. As they like water, never dry the compost in a year. For th compost, you may use mix compost or sphagnum moss. Or crypt-moss or bark alone is enough too. Especially, crypt-moss is very suitable for Paph. delenatii from my experience. The shade should be 50~60 % in summer and 30 ~ 50 % in winter. Sometimes, i have hard from the beginners that the plants will be smaller in every years. I guess it dependent on they grow in lower tem. and/or dry condition. In the higher tem. like 18 ℃ at least, it will grow well.。

Paph. delenatii grow well in mix compost or crypt moss. But I don' t like sphagnum moss although other people grow well. I'm not good at using sphagnum moss. The left photo, Paph. delenatii grows in crypt moss. In my green house, crypt moss is the best compost for Paph. delenatii. But it has problems to be decay for a half year.

The left down photo, Paph. delenatii grows in mix compost. On the other hand, the right down photo, they grow in crypt moss for the beginning but after decaying crypt moss, I put mix compost on the crypt moss without transplanting. In truth, I'm surprised that it is succeeded. I tried many pots but never make mistake. It is very easy.

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