"Just remember that the import license is only good for the one country that you applied for." Either you were given incorrect information or they've drastically changed things in the past year. I just renewed my permit last year and it's still valid for "admissible nursery stock, plants and roots not subject to postentry quarantine, seeds of trees and shrubs and also seeds covered in part 319.37-6" from "various approved countries." In other words, it's good for any plant material you may legally import from any country from which you may legally import it. (lol) The permit has more to do with control/tracking than "permission" for any particular material to be imported - everything is still subject to inspection/refusal at the time of entry if it doesn't met whatever requirements are in place at the time. Unless you live close enough to the inspection station to go make noise in person (or hire a broker), there isn't much you can do if/when something goes wrong... I've never imported paphs at all but I think as long as they're from a recognized nursery and don't look too bedraggled, you should be OK. But a surly ag inspector is always a possibility and like the proverbial city hall that you can't fight, there isn't much you can actually do - in time anyway - if a shipment is seized. One heads up is that for a while, a couple of years ago, the USDA was demanding phytos even for flasks, which is a minor pain but does add to the expense.

Calvin I also dont care for Oncidiums. I dont understand them. I try to like them but every time i look at them im just like eh, Phrag Besseae I like, but paphs make me think of flies! Also im Very afraid of spiders! so i dont like paphs big pouches a spider is going to get in there and get on my face when i bend down look at the flower i just know it will happen so No, No Pouches! Im also not a fan of Disa and Zygos, bulbos,or dendrochilum Harlequin Phals or ones with a bunch of spotting. Peloric anything. Im starting to loose my love for Floofy ruffles On Catts gravitating to examples of the species At whitecat those flower buds scare me! look like thumbs but then they turn into some kind of bug. ~Sam

that is phragmepedium. it is probably an intermediate temperature grower and should be water and fertilized often.i should tell you a good rule of thumb is to keep water and feed high and every thing else is an in between. but if your not sure alway err on the simple side. only repot once it is too big because its roots are sensitive and when it is repoted always get one that is atleast 2 sizes up. but of courase get others oppinions as well...

Hi lwowk/Larissa: My pair of 27w CFL's are about 2 ft away from the paphiopedilum x maudiae. The back-of-the-box info says a 27w CFL (=100w incandescent) has 1750 lumens. Note that I flower phalaenopsis equestris and amabilis, and Amesiella monticola under identical light set up. And these generally require more light than paphiopedilums which generally live on the forest floor. 55w CFL would be very bright by contrast. I would experiment and see how plant responds with growth, leaf color, etc. The only downside is that paphiopedilums are slow - and it could take weeks for an inciting event to express itself in plant growth. But if it burns, it should happen within 1-2 days. Play it by sight/ear. My 2 new growths that came out in August are still growing, slowly. Your plant is new(?) and probably spending its energy acclimating to your environment than into keiki growth - so don't worry. Plus it's winter. Do watch watering in winter. SCALES: I use Q-tip with 70% ethanol, checking 1-2 times a week. Persistence is the key. My Q-tipping rate eventually overtakes their multiplication rate and they disappear. Scales are cunning and hide in the most unlikely places. I have no experience using Neem or Safers on paphiopedilum. Check the link. Good luck, alvin