Cypripedium problem

[ian mcenery]

I have noticed a problem with a couple of my cyps  where some of the new growth can be deformed. In one case, Michael, this also happened last year resulting in the plant becoming smaller year on year. Does anyone know what the problem is and recommend a solution please?

[gote]

Me too    
Göte

[ichristie]

Hi Ian, I think it may be one of two problems the first is frosts just when the leaves emerge and the other is damage by aphids the curled leaf would suggest a bug of some sort,  maybe even a rust problem. cheers Ian the Christie kind.

[ian mcenery]

Thanks for that Ian you could be right as I tend to top dress the beds where the cyps are with my own garden compost which could be the source of the problem. Perhaps I will avoid dressing the cyps with my usual compost next year and see if it makes a difference. Any suggestions for a preemptive treatment ?

[ichristie]

Hi again Ian, we top dress the beds where  cypripediums grow with a mix of osmocote slow release fertilised some dolomite lime and sharp sand mix about 20% fert 60% sand 10% dolomite lime and 10 %  Composted bark this is spread over the beds never heavy handed a little at a time matbe twice a year, hope this helps cheers Ian the Christie kind

[ian mcenery]

Hi again Ian, we top dress the beds where  cypripediums grow with a mix of osmocote slow release fertilised some dolomite lime and sharp sand mix about 20% fert 60% sand 10% dolomite lime and 10 %  Composted bark this is spread over the beds never heavy handed a little at a time matbe twice a year, hope this helps cheers Ian the Christie kind

Hi Ian have I understood you correctly was this just 10% composted bark?

regards

Ian