The first plant to judge in 2025 will be unregistered Paphiopedilum [(Magic Cherry x Voodoo Magic) x (Magic Cherry x Hsinying Rainbow)].

Paphiopedilum Magic Cherry (Black Cherry x Voodoo Magic) has been originated by Orchid Zone and registered by Y. Sakamoto in 2001.

Paphiopedilum Voodoo Magic (Coultenianum x Vintner's Treasure) has been originated and registered by J.F. Hughes in 1987.

Paphiopedilum Hsinying Rainbow (Pulsar x Candy Apple) has been originated and registered by Ching Hua in 2002.

This vini color Paphiopedilum hybrid has many Paph. species in the background but two major species are Paph. callosum and Paph. lawrenceanum. Also Paph. curtisii has been presented in this breeding. This is a classic Maudiae hybrid.

Previous Awards:

There are no AOS awards for this cross.

There is one AOS award for Paphiopedilum Magic Cherry.

There are 19 AOS awards for Paphiopedilum Voodoo Magic.

There are 5 AOS awards for Paphiopedilum Hsinying Rainbow.

Description:

Our candidate has one flower on one 34.5-cm staked inflorescence. 

Flower Measurements:

NS H - 11.6 cm;                   NS V - 10.5 cm;

Dorsal Sep. W - 7.6 cm;    Dorsal Sep. L - 6.0 cm;

Petal W - 2.4 cm;               Petals L - 6.5 cm;

Lat/Synsepal W - 4.6 cm; Lat/Synsepal L - 4.5 cm;

Lip/Pouch W - 2.6 cm;      Lip/Pouch L - 7.0 cm.

Judges' Comments

Al Messina (Accredited Judge, Northeast Judging Center)

One flower on one late staked inflorescence; size, form, color, texture are better than many of its progenitors; late staking causes distracting, undesirable stem curvature. Overall, should qualify for HCC at minimum, perhaps an AM.

Kris Mason (Accredited Judge, Cincinnati Judging Center)

Size is reasonable; form is better than parents, I like the shape of the dorsal and the stance of the petals when compared to parents; nice color, the dorsal has darker venation which adds interest as does the white edge, the bright apple green at the base of the petals is very nice, warts are fairly even from one petal to the other, synsepal color adds interest; synsepal shape is an off, but does not affect the look of the flower from the front, I like the contrast of the shiny petals and sepals with the satiny pouch and the softer textured staminode; stem is nicely colored but not even is shape; over all nice flower, I would award this somewhere around 76-78 HCC.

Jay Balchan (Immediate Past AOS President; Student Judge, Alamo Judging Center)

What a great cross!  The standard of judging for Maudiae type Paphs is really high given the hundreds of this style that have been awarded.  I would probably nominate this for scoring, but not sure the flower will stand up upon close inspection.  The color is really nice (and probably better in the sun) with a fairly flat dorsal with just a light "pinch" very common in these flowers.  Overall, the flower is very nicely flat. The stem is a bit twisted.  Perhaps it was caught under another plant as the stem was developing?  Also, the synsepal is a bit crooked and a tad small. The deep spotting on the petals is very clustered which could be an interesting breeding trait (breed this with a plant with lots of even spots and see if you can get multiple spot clusters along the petals).  As the spotting is now, it is visually interesting, but not ideal from a judging perspective.  If I scored it, it would fall just short of a flower award score on my card.  But I would love to have this plant on display in my kitchen! 

Deb Jenson (Student Judge, Chicago Judging Center)

I like the color achieved with this hybrid. The overall burgundy color with the veining and the spot of green at the base of the petals is beautiful. I also find the white on the edge of the synsepal interesting. Unfortunately, I do have some issues with the form. The dorsal is cupped and is not flat, as shown in the side view picture. The petals are not the same size, and the pouch seems small compared to the overall flower size. I would pass on awarding this. However, I feel this hybrid shows promise and may produce a better-formed flower in subsequent blooming.

Joe Bryson (Accredited Judge, Florida North-Central Judging Center)

The flower is stunning in both color and form, although the Dorsal is a little unsymmetrical, esp. seen from the backside, it is very wide and looks reasonably flat from the profile view. The stem is also skewed. Probably not staked early enough and/or moved before flowering. Curious about the slight difference in overall color of the flower between the two photos that were shot straight on (one tilted down to show the staminode). I would consider a mid-AM for this.

Paul Wetter (Senior Judge, West Palm Beach Judging Center)

Thank you for submitting this very nice Maudie hybrid. It has very nice classic color and form expected from the two major species in the background. A nicely shaped full dorsal contributed by both callosum and lawrenceanum and a rich vine-color. At judging I would expect it to be recognized and an AM score in the low to mid 80’s. Interested in assessment from more experienced Paph Judges.

Best

Paul Wetter

Bob Winkley (Accredited Judge, Northeast Judging Center)

Thank you for sending along this striking vinicolor candidate which heralds from some very distinguished lines of hybridization. There are many admirable qualities here:

• Overall confirmation of the flower is very good

• Dorsal is nice and flat

• Petals are broad and the margins are clear - no undulations or waves. Coloration is very attractive and the dense cilia quite even along their entire margin.

• Overall effect of color is very pleasing.

That said, there are a number of issues with the flower that I find distracting:

• There is a vertical area in the lower left half of the dorsal where the color saturation is not as intense, almost looking like a break

• The white margin at the top of the dorsal is uneven, a factor which is made more apparent by the fact that the dorsal is about one cm longer than it is wide

• The synsepal does not frame the pouch well and, when seen from reverse, it appears to have some extra tissue on one side.

• The curve in the inflorescence tends towards distraction.

I think this plant has potential, but would pass on this flowering.

All the best,

Bob W.

Judie Armstrong (Associate Judge, Florida North-Central Judging Center)

The dark cherry color of this flower is very nice.  I would pass at this time due to the petals being sized differently.  I think the right petal is rolled back at the top and gives the appearance of being smaller than the left petal.  The petals look like they reflex back.  The dorsal is very nice and flat.  This appears to be a young plant and hopefully will be brought back after another blooming.  It definitely has potential.

Thank you,

Judie

William Goldner (Accredited Judge, National Capital Judging Center)

Looks like a nice vinicolor.

Size: in award quality range

Form: OK. Front view of dorsal is at first impressive suggesting a full round dorsal. Some recurving of dorsal and petals, synsepal is disproportionate from side to side. Would liked to have seen the flower from the side. Shadow on the wall suggested the dorsal is not as flat as it could be.

Color: Good color.

Score: Maybe 75-76. Would need to see from the side to determine how form will affect score.

Bill

Steve González-Costa (Accredited Judge, Chicago Judging Center)

This is a very colorful flower that really seems to take lots of color from the Hsinying Rainbow parent. Great vini color.  Looking at the most prominent feature of a Maudiae Paph, the dorsal is improved a bit further from the Magic Cherry parent, and I feel the Hsinying Rainbow dorsal’s are a bit ‘overround’ and slightly larger to the overall flowers proportions in the awarded plants.  To me the nice dorsal that is balanced and flat are those with Voodoo Magic and that’s why that cross has received so many awards.  So, the dorsal is ok and pretty balanced when looking straight into the flower.  My biggest issue is the flatness of the dorsal, which explodes when you look at the synsepal from behind.  Petal twist (left one) and roll (right one) is distracting and is not slight or uniform to both sides (consistent).  The petals are not as swept like some parents might have been and that’s why this flower gets to 11.6 cm NSW.  The flower is slightly smaller than most of the AM examples of 3 of the 4 parents we see data for – but not a big deal.  Unfortunately, due to the dorsal and petal uneven rolling and twists I did not score it, not to say that – any – Maudiae is perfect with this, I pass.  The color is incredible for this flower, and maybe one of my peers in the team nominated it for the color improvements and it scored and HCC of 76 or 77 points – beautiful flower.

Exhibitor - Luis Valdez, TX

Virtual Award Description

One well balanced burgundy flower on a deep burgundy lightly pubescent 34.5 cm long upright inflorescence; dorsal sepal full, nicely shaped with darker burgundy venation, distal half edged and tipped white; synsepal with darker burgundy venation, margin white; petals broad, apple green basally, ciliated even, deep burgundy edge, medial superior half with well-defined cluster of dense very deep burgundy warts; staminode white, blushed burgundy centrally; substance firm, texture, petals and sepals glossy , pouch satiny, staminode slightly satiny, difference in texture adds interest to flower. 

Grower's Advice

This particular Paph., I bought from a vendor here in San Antonio, TX. So much of the credit should not go to me as growing it.  It was already in med. height bud when I got it. For the most part, I grow my small Paphiopedilums in temperatures between 64 degres F in winter and 85 degrees F in summer. I water once a week and grow under lights. I provide low air circulation throughout the week. I collect rain water, so I water everything with it. I add a balanced 30-30-30 fertilizer with my watering. I dilute recommended dosage by half amount per gallon.  

I provided the picture of my table sign with a Paph. that I really liked. I am intrested in seeing comments on this flower for next year.

Also, I have others genera orchids that are spiking. I want to submit my favorite primary hybrids like Paph. Vanda M. Pearlman, Iantha Stage, Dollgoldi, Gloria Naugle and species like rothschildianums, hainanense, venustum, barbatum, delenatii, hirsutissimum, and others.

I currently have four AOS awards and one show trophy award for the show theme, "March Madness"  I came up with the idea and I incorporated basket balls and orchids! A difficult hybrid to create, but I did it exceptionally well.

I also have a You Tube channel called:  "Luis Valdez" Orchid Whisperer.  I upload my videos of my orchids and I sometimes give advise and or tell my subscribers how I care for my orchids.

Thanks alot for allowing me to participate in your Virtual Orchid Judging website.  

Thank you,

Luis Valdez,  Orchid Whisperer.