cyps in pots 2013

[K Andrzejewski]

I havent any cyps, in Essex clay. I do not think it would be a success with me, to much rain up here.

- exactly because of the rain, I'm keeping my Cypripedium in clay
Kristof
P.S. To avoid too quickly drying out, I started to cover everything with the gravel (crashed marble or granite) on the top.

[monocotman]

Angie,
it is difficult to over feed cyps at this time of year when they're growing so fast.
I feed mine every weekend at this time of year.
It's especially important when they've had plenty of rain.
Nitrogen can leach out of an inorganic compost very quickly,
David

[Maren]

Hi Angie,
for pale leaves I give a dose of Epsom salts. Works well, also on vegetables.

[Roma]

Are you bringing your Cyps along to the display in the Duthie Park tomorrow, Angie?  I hope enough people bring plants to make it worth while.

[angie]

Yes Roma I dropped of a couple off earlier today and a couple of other plants, looking forward to see your plants tomorrow. I think it's a rainy day tomorrow so I do hope they get a good turn out.

Angie 

[angie]

Angie,
it is difficult to over feed cyps at this time of year when they're growing so fast.
I feed mine every weekend at this time of year.
It's especially important when they've had plenty of rain.
Nitrogen can leach out of an inorganic compost very quickly,
David

With all the rain that we have had lately I thought my feed would just be washed away  I will give the others a bit more feeding. David when do you start feeding your plants, is it once you see growth.

Maren I remember you giving me this advice before . I forgot, my brain just doesn't hold anything in 

Angie 

[monocotman]

Angie,

over the years I've brought my feeding earlier and earlier in the year.
They need most of their annual nitrogen requirement early in the season to build the green stems and foliage.
When you think they go from nothing above ground to fully extended stems/leaves/flowers in about a month then that is a huge ask for the resources of the plant and you need to help them along as much as possible.
After that the requirement for nitrogen will drop off a cliff.
So I start to feed general purpose feed as soon as the pots come out of their winter hibernation.
They then receive feed once a week, in rain water if possible, as we've discussed already.
Once flowering is over then the regime can relax considerably as the plants recuperate from the rapid spring growth and start to build for next year.
The skeleton for building for next year has been made and the leaves will gently continue to photosynthesise for the rest of the year and transfer sugars to the rhizome, roots and new basal buds.
So it is important to keep the plants unstressed and happy during the summer whilst this is happening.
Last year's cool weather was great for this and that is why they're showing a big increase in size this spring.
Later in the year you start to see the roots grow quickly. This is always apparent when you repot late in the season and when the plants appreciate a tomato feed.
I start with this high potash feed in July.

Regards,

David

[angie]

Thanks David I think a lot of us will find ths helpful. Before I joined the forum I killed more of these Cypripediums than I would like to admit to. I thought they would need a lot of protection especially up here in the cold north but I soon discovered that they liked the cold.
My first shock was when I read that Anthony Darby left his pots of Cyps, out in temperatures of -21c.

They are wonderful plants and I am grateful that you share your knowledge.


Angie 

[monocotman]

Angie,

I did the same when I first started with a cyp reginae.
I thought it would be better under the greenhouse staging than outdoors.
It did not last very long at all!
They all hate the heat.
If we had summers like last year every year then they'd all grow like weeds,

regards,

David

[Peter Maguire]

David,

Thank you for the information on your feeding regime - I've tended to under feed in the past, so have found that plants bulk up slowly to a certain size, then things seem to take off and there is a rapid increase in size, often nearly doubling each year. I've started a better feeding regime this year, not just in Cyps, as reduced pressures of work allow me more gardening time. 

Incidentally, I've also started to top-dress my pots with the expanded clay pellets you use as we have a serious snail problem here, and aim to try not use use chemical control in the pots if I can avoid it, although it is the only place where I use pellets other than in the greenhouse in pots of hepaticas. I will let people know if it's worked for me.

Looks this summer is shaping up to match last year - woke up to standing water on the patio this morning. I look forward to the new weeds!

[angie]

Angie,

If we had summers like last year every year then they'd all grow like weeds,

regards,

David

David lets hope so 

Angie 

[monocotman]

Hi,

here is a link to a video I took this morning of my cyps.
It's a first attempt and uses the video feature on my Canon S2 camera.
The quality is not the best, some of the colours are a bit washed out,
but you get the idea.
Maybe next time I'll add some commentary.



Regards,

David

[Maggi Young]

Hi,

here is a link to a video I took this morning of my cyps.
It's a first attempt and uses the video feature on my Canon S2 camera.
The quality is not the best, some of the colours are a bit washed out,
but you get the idea.
Maybe next time I'll add some commentary.

Regards,

David

You're just growing a few then, David? 
I love the whites.

I think the video gives a super feeling of immediacy to the plants - more exciting than straight photos -thanks for posting! 

[Peter Maguire]

Absolutely stunning range of plants David: the video gives a far better impression of the range of plants than even your photos have, and we can see the ones you are going to see in still photograph form when they bulk up further. 

Incidentally - the video link did not show up in my browser on the forum website (I use Firefox). The fact that I actually opened Windows Explorer to see the link shows you how keen I was to see the video. 

[angie]

Brilliant video and brilliant Cyps,  I would love to have a collection like yours. I better get buying again.

Angie