Larry Cox, “A Slipper Collection for South Florida”

Larry Cox acquired his first orchid, a cattleya, in 1972. His second was a paphiopedilum, Paph. Maudiae ‘Magnificum.’  The cattleya is long gone, but he still has a piece of the paph.   When he began with paphs, he commonly heard, “You can’t grow those in South Florida,” but the first one lived and bloomed, and the paphiopedilum collection continued to grow. In the mid 1980’s most of the other orchids were sold or given away, all for the love of paphs.  In 1989 he moved from his South Miami residence to a more spacious property in the farming district of southern Miami-Dade County where he built his dream greenhouse of  3000 square feet.  He has suffered setbacks, such as hurricane Andrew in 1992, but with perseverance and with the discovery of new paph species ,and the consequent new hybrids, Larry’s  love of paphiopedilums has been renewed over and over again.  In 1983 Larry won his first AOS award for Paph. Maudiae coloratum ‘Elektra’ AM/AOS, one of the first vinicolors.  Since then his orchids have earned sixty AOS awards, including five FCC’s.

Eighteen years ago, Larry retired from thirty-seven years as a teacher, the last fifteen teaching Advanced Placement high school English .  He now spends his time reading, traveling, maintaining his property and, of course, growing paphs.  Larry has experimented with other orchid genera and has found success with lycastes, phragmipediums, and pescatoreas.  He has even rediscovered the wonder of cattleyas, particularly species.

We will have our orchid meeting Monday, September 11, featuring Larry Cox. He will be speaking on slipper orchids that are suitable to grow in South Florida. He has his own collection that have been raised at his home in Miami. You have an opportunity to reserve your plant before the meeting as seen in the list below.

The plants are mostly divisions from his collection. He cannot bring all the orchids but will be glad to reserve plants. Just drop him an e-mail with the name of the plant and preferred price if there is a range. His e-mail address: lawcox@bellsouth.net

Brassia Rex ‘Tahoma’ AM/AOS – $30 (established on a log)

C. intermedia orlata ‘Crownfox’ AM/AOS – $45 (6” pot) supposed to be from the original plant

C. trianae ‘Mary Fennell’ HCC/AOS – Japanese breeders were able to meristem this classic clone, and I obtained a seedling some years ago. Good grower and bloomer. $50 (4 back bulbs and 1 new to bloom in season)

I grow the following lycastes with cattleyas.

Lycaste Agnette ‘Elektra’ AM/AOS (Lyc. macrobulbon x Lyc. schilleriana) – $35, 1 new, several old growths)

Lycaste macrobulbon – largest flowered of the yellow/orange lycastes, warm grower. $40, 4 new growths to bloom, $35 2 new growths to bloom

Mexipedium xerophyticum – $35, 5” pot with several growths

Paphiopedilums

Paph. randsii – rare striped multifloral – $35, 3 growth division

Paph. concolor – $35 multi growth, $20 single growth; easiest of the brachypetalums, yellow

Paph Linda Booth ‘Nike’ HCC/AOS (Paph. chamberlainianum x Paph. St. Swithin) – $50 6” pot in bloom; $35 5” pot

Paph Linda Boot h, a different clone – $40 6” pot; $25 2-growth plant

Paph. Andronicus ‘Nike’ AM/AOS (Paph. rothschildianum x Paph. Victoria-regina) – $50, 1 old, 4 new growths

Paph. praestans $35, $30

Paph. philippinense $35, $30

Paph. HoneY ‘Nike’ HCC/AOS (Paph. philippinense x Paph. primulinum) – $35, $30, both multi -growth

Paph. exul – $40, $35, both multi-growth. Give good light.

Paph. Rolfei ‘Nike” AM/AOS (Paph. bellatulum x Paph. rothschildianum) – $40, several growths. Reluctant bloomer, but worth the wait.

Paph. Starr Flies ‘Nike’ AM/AOS (Paph. Maudiae x Paph. St. Swithin) – $60. This is truly spectacular from an unusual hybrid, vinicolor multifloral. Blooming size division.

Paph. Susan Boot h (Paph. rothschildianum x Paph. praestans) – $45, $30, $25; free blooming dark flowers from praestans var. bodegomi

Paph. Delrosi (Paph. rothschildianum x Paph. delenatii) $30 – several growth divisions, pink flower

Paph. Betty Burkham ‘Elektra’ HCC/AOS (Paph. Edna Ratcliffe x Paph. lowii) $35 – 1-growth division, blooming size

Paph. Black Diamond ‘Elektra’ HCC/AOS (Paph. delenatii x Paph. fairrieanum). $30, 2 growth division

Paph. chamberlainianumd – $35, 2 growths, 1 in flower

Paph. glaucophyllum – $45, large with 3 bloom spikes; $30, several growths

Paph. liemianum – $40, 3 growth division

Paph. Sander’s Pride ‘Elektra’ HCC/AOS (Paph. sanderianum x Paph. stonei) – $50, 2 old growths, 2 new growths. Has the long ribbon-like petals of sanderianum

Paph. Sander’s Pride ‘Nike’ AM/AOS – $60, several growths

Paph. Shin-Yi’s Pride ‘Nike’ AM/AOS (Paph. Michael Koopowitz x Paph. rothschildianum) – $40, several growths

Paph. Leeanum ‘Marshall’ AM/AOS (Paph. insigne x Paph. spicerianum) , AOS awarded 87 points – $50, 6” pot full of growths, has the warmth tolerance of P. spicerianum, large flowers with huge dorsal

Paphiopedilum Astraea (Paph. philippinense x Paph. spicerianum) $35, 6” pot, many growths. Multifloral with big white dorsal
Of course, we will have our spectacular raffle table, including some plants from Larry’s collection. Don’t forget your plants for ribbon judging!