Is it safe to repot Cypripediums now?

[Houseslippers]

I've recently got a few hybrid Cyps in pots from Edrom (Sebastian, Sabine Pastel & Paul Frosch) and except for Sebastian they're showing their buds above the soil now in a cool greenhouse, with Sabine beginning to show the leaves proper. I'd like to repot in the 90%/10% inorganic/organic mix in bigger pots; is it too late to do this now? They are just about flowering size with one or two noses each.

If it is safe now, I assume I remove all old soil, as usual (I say as usual, but I haven't done this before with Cyps)?

[monocotman]

Hi Tony,

yes it is safe to repot now, but be a bit careful with the Sabine. I'd water the plants before repotting to keep the roots damp. Cyps are very sensitive to drying roots for even short lengths of time. I've found this out to my cost. After repotting water them again quickly.
Dont' keep the plants in your cool greenhouse for much longer - they hate any heat, especially when newly repotted.
They don't have well developed root systems, until they're multibudded, compared to most plants so cannot cope with high rates of transpiration that come with high temperatures.
My plants are just starting to show buds above the compost and they're already outside on the north side of the greenhouse. I'll cover them, as a precaution, if any serious frosts are forecast.
After they've started to grow and flower the only time my cyps come into the greenhouse is to photograph them.
When you see any growth at all, give the hybrids a good feed at full strength of of the usual white powders. They need quite a bit of nitrogen as the shoots grow and the leaves extend,

Regards,

David

[Houseslippers]

Thank you again David, extremely informative - I'll take them out tomorrow & repot asap.

[Maren]

I agree with Monocotman. I'd just add a sprinkling of slug pellets, as the new shoots are often eaten by slugs and snails.