The name of the orchids of the Paphiopedilum genus, in Romanian, namely "Venus's slipper", is a translation of the scientific name. Although there are no species of Paphiopedilum in Cyprus, or at least in Europe, for a long time they were associated with the species of the genus Cypripedium - which are present in the Mediterranean area, including in the rest of Europe, including in Romania, where the species Cypripedium Calceolus (Lady's slipper) it is present and registered with the status of Monument of Nature. The actual species of Pahiopedilum, present in the horticultural trade, and which form the basis of the majority of hybrids available today, are of East Asian origin.

The genus is functionally divided into two categories: species with green, uniformly colored leaves , which prefer higher temperature conditions, and species with spotted leaves , with smaller flowers, which prefer lower temperature conditions and offer more blooms per year (compared to those with uniform green leaves, where there is only one flowering per year).

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The Paphiopedilum orchid is a compact plant, with relatively frequent and long flowering - flowers lasting between 6 weeks and 3 months - easy to grow in apartment conditions. It blooms in autumn, summer and spring, once to 3 times a year, depending on the cultivated species or hybrid. After the withering and falling of the flowers, it is recommended to cut the stems as close as possible to the base, to stimulate re-blooming, after a period of approximately 9 months.

Epiphyte taxon (grows on trees) or lithophile (grows among stones), prefers medium-grained bark substrates or mixed with gravel, pumice stone or volcanic tuff, 0.5 - 1.5 cm in diameter, in a percentage of 25% . The culture's preferred environment is generally represented by various mixtures of fir or pine bark, dry foliage, sphagnum moss, vermiculite, charcoal. There is no standard in this sense, the choice of substrate remains largely the choice of the breeder, but it is necessary to change the substrate as soon as its compaction and/or pronounced decomposition is observed, as both aspects can lead to serious damage to the plants.

Growing temperatures vary from a minimum of 10 - 16 °C, to a maximum of 24 °C, and humidity from 40% to 80%.

Containing sciaphil species (shade-loving) , an aspect that is also preserved in hybrids and varieties of culture - which is why they represent the perfect companions for the genera Phalaenopsis and Zygopetalum - the representatives of the genus Paphiopedilum should not be exposed to direct light . The natural environmental conditions, represented by the shaded areas of the forests, under dense crowns or bushes, with cold nights necessary to start the growth, are useful clues in creating conditions for these species in indoor culture, but according to the American Orchid Society, P. maudiae and its hybrids do not require the presence of those conditions, blooming easily throughout the year at constant temperatures starting with 18 °C.

Watering is recommended once a week , by submerging for 10 minutes, and then draining the water. At the same time, additional spraying of the substrate in the warm season is recommended, avoiding excessive spraying of the leaves. For a proper development, it is important not to allow the complete drying of the substratum , unlike other genera (Phalaenopsis, Vanda, Oncidium, the artificial supergenus Cambria, and otherwise most of the botanical or cultural taxa of the Orchidaceae family), the genus Paphiopedilum it does not possess tissues for storing water and nutrients (thickened leaves and roots, pseudobulbs, reed-like stems), so the plants strongly feel the variations in the availability of water and nutrients. If it is preferred to keep the pots in decorative ceramic masks, water stagnation in them will be avoided.

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