Orchid umbrella shoe - Endemic orchid species of Vietnam

The shoe orchid (Bulphophyllum frostii) is a wild orchid endemic to Vietnam. Its flowers are shaped like a shoe, very rare, and have high collection value.

The shoe orchid (scientific name: Bulbophyllum frostii) is one of the rare endemic orchid species of Vietnam, making a strong impression with flowers shaped like unique purple shoes. Thanks to its unique appearance and the need for a lot of experience, the shoe orchid has become the target of many professional orchid collectors.

If you want to learn more about the origin, characteristics as well as effective techniques for growing and caring for the Long Shoe orchid, please read the article below by orchid, guaranteed you will "pocket" a lot of interesting experiences.

Origin & distribution of orchid Long giay

Shoe orchid is also known as Slipper orchid.

Bulbophyllum frostii, also known as the Slipper orchid, is an endemic orchid species of Vietnam, belonging to the genus Bulbophyllum (Lan Long), first scientifically described in 1935 based on specimens collected in Vietnam.

In nature, the orchid is only distributed in Vietnam, specifically in some provinces such as Lam Dong, Kon Tum, Dak Nong, Gia Lai, where the climate is cool and humidity is high all year round.

Bulbophyllum frostii is an epiphytic orchid that lives on large tree trunks in tropical humid forests. It is a shade-loving, cool-climate species.

Shape characteristics of the orchid Long shoe

Flower, leaf and stem shape of the orchid.

Shoe orchid (Shoe parasol) is considered one of the orchid species with the most unique and impressive shape with flowers that look like small, pretty shoes. Let's find out the details below.

Body (pseudo-stem) :

• Small oval or flat round, with light vertical stripes
• Size is only 1 - 2 cm, grows horizontally and sticks closely to the substrate.
• Green when young, brown when old, covered with a layer of growth

Roots :

• Wind root, thin, silvery white
• Roots cling well to the substrate

Leaves :

• Each pseudobulb has only one leaf.
• Leaves are oval, slightly blunt tip, 3 - 5 cm in size, 1 - 2 cm wide, without petiole.
• Leaves are dark green, slightly shiny on top, with vertical grooves.
• Hard, thick leaves

Flower :

• The flower has a unique shape like an old shoe.
• Flowers grow alone from the base of the pseudobulb.
• The petals are thick, with a pale yellow, ivory background and dotted with many very special dark purple or reddish brown dots.
• Two side wings facing up like spinning shoes
• The flower lip is orange-yellow or yellow-brown.
• The flowers have a slightly strong or neutral scent, not as fragrant as many other orchid species.
• Usually blooms in the rainy season - early dry season (October - February)
• Flowers bloom for 5 - 7 days

Detailed orchid care guide for beginners

Instructions for planting & caring for Slipper orchids.

The shoe umbrella orchid (slipper umbrella) is a rather difficult orchid to grow because it requires a lot of experience as well as special care conditions. If you are new to growing wild orchids, please refer to the instructions on how to grow & care for this orchid that we share here to feel easier.

Selecting and processing Bulbophyllum frostii orchid varieties

First, you need to pay attention to choosing and processing orchid varieties. This is the key factor in determining whether the orchid can adapt and grow well or not.

When choosing orchid varieties, you should prioritize the following issues:

• Choose seedlings that have 3 - 4 pseudobulbs or more.
• Green leaves, no pests, white roots

• Choose purebred or fresh forest trees

After selecting the breed, it is necessary to carry out preliminary treatment to remove pathogens:

• Trim dry roots, wilted leaves, wash orchid roots thoroughly
• Soak seedlings in Physan 20 or benkona solution to kill fungus.
• If you want to stimulate orchid roots, continue to soak the orchid roots in Atonik, B1, Rootplex solution for 10 - 15 minutes.
• Then hang the orchid root in a cool place for 1 - 2 days to let the plant dry completely.

Select and process the growing medium for the orchid

Choosing and treating the right substrate will help the Cymbidium orchid grow well and limit fungal diseases. Please choose and treat the substrate according to the following instructions.

• Suitable substrate : Star apple wood, longan wood, coconut fiber board, pine bark, charcoal, forest moss, coconut fiber chips,...
• Substrate treatment : Wash, soak in lime water, Physan 20 solution or boil briefly to disinfect.

Caring for Orchid from A to Z

Right below is a detailed guide to caring for the orchid Long Giay. If you want to be more "relaxed" in growing this special orchid, don't miss it.

Suitable watering mode:

• Dry season : Water 1-2 times/day, only water lightly at the base, do not water too much to avoid water stagnation.
• Rainy season : Water 2-3 times/week or only water when the growing medium is dry.

Maintain optimal light & temperature :

• Light : Maintain 50 - 60% diffused light, should be planted under the porch, shady trees
• Temperature : 18 - 28 degrees C
• Humidity : Maintain high humidity from 75 - 90%
• Ventilation : Cool, airy environment

Fertilize appropriately for each stage:

• Recovery phase (after planting) : Spray B1 + Atonik once a week to stimulate orchid roots.
• Development stage : Combine NPK 30-10-10 with liquid organic fertilizer
• Pre-rainy season (August - September) : Switch to NPK 6-30-30 to stimulate flower buds

Disease prevention and treatment for orchids

If you want to keep your orchid pot healthy and avoid common diseases such as root rot, leaf spots or insect pests, please refer to some disease prevention and treatment measures below.

Shoe umbrella price list

Currently, Bulbophyllum frostii is sold in the Vietnamese market at a fairly high price. This is completely understandable because this is not only an endemic wild orchid but also very rare. For details on prices, please refer to the price list below.

Questions and answers about shoe umbrellas?

Is orchid easy to grow?

No, this orchid requires high technique and elaborate care, completely unsuitable for beginners in growing wild orchids.

Should I grow orchids in pots or on wood?

Grafting wood/coir board is the best option for orchids because of its good ventilation and drainage. However, if you know how to care for it, planting in pots is also a good idea.

Is the orchid easy to bloom?

Although it is not as easy to flower as many other industrial orchids, if you grasp the basic techniques that we instruct above, helping this orchid to flower is simple.

Beautiful and unique shoe orchid images

We invite you to look at the collection of photos of Bulbophyllum frostii orchids with unique shapes that we have shared below to feel all the uniqueness and interest that this orchid brings. We guarantee that you will be surprised and attracted by these moments.

Close-up of the unique orchid parasol shoe face.

A super large orchid bush.

The small and pretty orchids bloom in the sun.

The orchids are blooming beautifully.

A beautiful blooming orchid.

The image of the orchid parasol looks like pretty little shoes.

Bulbophyllum frostii orchid flowers with impressive shape and color.

A small pot of orchid is blooming.

The shoe orchid (slipper orchid) is not only a rare wild orchid with a unique appearance, but it is also a symbol of Vietnam's biodiversity. Although this orchid is not easy to grow, if cared for properly, it will become a very special highlight for your orchid collection.

Hopefully, the information that orchid-vn.com shares in the above article will help you better understand the orchid. Don't forget to visit our Blog section to learn about many other beautiful - unique - strange orchid species.