Help: Cypripedium franchetii and the slugs from hell!

[Corrado & Rina]

I have no words? I found the plant chewed in the pot .... RIP

What do I do now? Do I pull out the rhizome to see how deep did the chewing go? Do I wait for autumn? Do I keep watering and fertilising?

Best,

Corrado & Rina

[Chuck]

If the rhizome is in tact I would continue doing what you would do if it was not eaten. It will come back next year.

[Maggi Young]

I would investigate the  soil in pot closely to be sure that the slug or snail has not laid eggs in there. 

[Peter Maguire]

It will probably come back next year, but will have a setback for a while - you'll have to wait a little longer for the flowers.
Personally I'd be inclined not to disturb the compost at present, but to water on a liquid slug/snail killer, perhaps repeating the process in a couple of months. That way if there are any hatching slug eggs, the slugs will be killed before they reach the surface of the compost and are less of a threat to wildlife and pets.
I've had a similar problem recently with snapped stems, this time caused by wind damage to young, floppy shoots whist I was away from home.  Such are the joys of Cypripedium growing. 

[Maren]

Hi,
commiserations, it happens to us all.
Maggi's point is very relevant: do search for snail eggs, they are usually laid in the first 5cm of the compost. It is worth watering the pot and any others you treasure with a slug killer solution. Without recommending any products, I use Slug Clear or Nemasys.

[monocotman]

Providing the plants was a reasonable size then it will usually come back next year, although much smaller.
I usually reckon this sort of thing knocks them back a couple of years.
Keep the pot damp with the odd feed.
David