Paphiopedilum hangianum

A slipper orchid from the limestone karst of northern Vietnam and the adjacent Chinese border, described only in 1999 and notable for having the largest flowers in the genus, pale yellow to yellow-green and 9–12 cm across. It grows in thin calcareous soil on steep eroded limestone slopes and cliffs under moderate forest shade, flowering in spring after a cool, drier winter. Wild plants are very rare, so buy only flasked or seed-raised plants.

At home, aim for

Day IntermediateTargets in Plantistry

Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Ordinary room humidityBand in Plantistry

Light Dappled lightDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

Expects a seasonal restGrows on rock (lithophyte)

Where it grows wild

Closed evergreen forest on very steep slopes and cliffs of heavily eroded limestone mountains. Plants root into thin, calcareous humus and leaf litter caught in cracks and ledges of the rock, under moderate shade from the surrounding forest.

Literature gives about 450–750 m; the eight dated wild records fall at 475–725 m, median 500 m, all in far northern Vietnam around 22.3–22.5° N.

Northern Vietnam: limestone karst of the far north near the Chinese borderSouth-central China: adjacent border areas (listed by Kew)

🔒 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.