Venus Slipper: How Much Water & Light Does it Need to Thrive?

Venus Slipper

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Paphiopedilum wardii

Genus

Paphiopedilum

Family

Orchidaceae

Order

Asparagales

How to care for Venus Slipper

💦 Water

How often to water your Venus Slipper

Venus Slipper needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Venus Slipper in your home

Venus Slipper can tolerate being far from a window and light source.

Place it less than 6 feet from a south-facing window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Venus Slipper in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Venus Slipper

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Venus Slipper: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Venus Slipper after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

GUYS 😭 I was walking around my room doing a growth check (yes, with my turbie twist on 🧖‍♀️ lol), and went over to the lil orchid babies and saw a new leaf on one! So of course I excitedly ran my finger over it and (embarrassingly) started congratulating Leilani and telling her I was proud of her, and that’s when I suddenly realized… IT’S NOT A LEAF, IT’S THE START OF A SPIKE (!!!) and I suddenly lost all brain functioning for about 2 minutes while chaotically repeating “oh my god, oh my god” and attempted to record a video explaining why this was such a huge deal for me. (P.S. — Let’s be thankful that we can’t upload videos to Greg for now, because some things are better left unseen lmao.) This freaking orchid… I’ve put her through hell. I accidentally overfertilized and burned her less than 2 weeks after getting her in March of this year. After nursing her back to health, I then stressed her out again when I moved in May. I got her as a younger orchid, so I’ve never seen her bloom irl (although I’ve seen pictures 🥵). In fact, none of my orchids have bloomed yet, I’m definitely a #NewPlantParent when it comes to orchids. Even though #Paphiopedilum orchids are terrestrial and moisture-loving, I’ve been doing a shitty job maintaining her watering schedule. TL;DR — She’s not only survived in spite of me, but my “problem” orchid just happens to be the first that will (hopefully) bloom! What are the chances?! 🥳 In case you can’t tell, I’m really f*cking excited. Brain still not fully recovered from the surge of glee. Geez, nature is pretty cool dude! 🌸 #OrchidLovers #OrchidOrg #RareOrchid #ResilientPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #NewGrowth #PlantTherapy #PlantShelfie

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

Venus Slipper prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Venus Slipper Water Frequency →

Venus Slipper Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Venus Slipper can tolerate being far from a window and light source. Place it less than 6 feet from a south-facing window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Venus Slipper Light Requirements →

Venus Slipper Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Greg does not have confirmed data on this plant’s toxicity. If you, a family member, or a pet consumes plant material of unknown toxicity, it’s always best to consult a medical professional.

If you or someone else ingested this plant, call Poison Control at US (800) 222-1222. If a pet consumed this plant, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA at US (888) 426-4435.

🪴 Soil

Venus Slipper does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Venus Slipper →

When and How to Successfully Repot Venus Slipper →

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.