Paphiopedilum bellatulum

Egg-in-a-nest orchid

A compact slipper orchid from limestone hills in south-western China, Myanmar and Thailand, with mottled leaves and round, white flowers heavily spotted with purple. It grows in shaded limestone cliff crevices at mid elevations, where the winters are cooler and drier. It is known in cultivation for rotting easily, so it needs a very open, limestone-enriched mix and careful watering.

At home, aim for

Day IntermediateTargets in Plantistry

Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Ordinary room humidityBand in Plantistry

Light ShadeDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

Expects a seasonal restGrows on rock (lithophyte)

Where it grows wild

Shaded limestone cliffs and rocky slopes, with the roots in humus and moss-filled crevices. The leaves lie close to the rock.

About 900–1,500 m. The 4 measured records carry no elevation.

China South-CentralChina SoutheastMyanmarThailandLaosVietnamAssam

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates

✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it

✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light

✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it

✓ Substrate and airflow

✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app.