Cypripediums 2017

[Steve Garvie]

Cypripedium acaule de-flasked seedlings are sometimes available from Albiflora and other sources. They need to be grown in a free-draining very acidic mix (coarse silica sand/grit, chopped sphagnum moss and very acidic Scots Pine duff). The pH of the medium needs to remain below 4.5, this is achieved using reverse osmosis-treated water/rainwater with 15mls/L of cider vinegar added. The seedlings are grown in a polystyrene vaccine box with drainage holes 2cm above the inner base -which effectively creates a small acidic reservoir.
This is the first year of flowering (only one seedling so far). I suspect that getting them this far has been the easy part.



Cypripedium candidum


Cypripedium parviflorum


Cypripedium Boots

[Steve Garvie]

Cypripedium sichuanense



Cypripedium hotei-atsumorianum



Cypripedium tibeticum -two different examples of the typical form.




Cypripedium tibeticum -a form with pale patches on the lip.

[GordonT]

Amazing photos, Steve! I am constantly in awe of the images you are able to capture. Thought of you, the other day, when I noticed Cypripedium acaule (alba form) preparing to bloom at a friend's woodland cabin.

[johnw]

Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens forma planipetalum in flower yesterday.  About 10-11cm tall.  Wishing Steve were here to photograph it.

Weather is remaining cool, 11c today with intermittent showers.  Hard to believe but the mid-season magnolias are still providing a show, the Camellias are still looking good -in June!

john

[GordonT]

Two out of three clumps of Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens have decided to bloom this year. Nice to see a bit of petal colour variation between the two plants.

[johnw]

A friend's Cypripedium reginae seems to be enjoying the weather here.  How it managed to get through last year's record drought is a mystery. Lost count at 50 flowers, long overdue for division.

john - +14c, drizzle & fog

[Gail]

I bought a Cypripedium reginae from a local garden centre last year, split it into 2 plants immediately and have been somewhat surprised to find that not only have I not killed them (yet) but one has flowered this year (in very dry East Anglia). Whether I will ever get the opportunity to lose count of flowers remains to be seen...

[Steve Garvie]

Some images from earlier this month

Cypripedium farreri -The second image is of the senescent flower on the same plant







Cypripedium lichiangense