Cypripedium 2008

[Joakim B]

Will be calling You Anthony in the future.
Joakim

[Anthony Darby]

I think the size of the plant and flower is due to cultivation technique. I have problems with too much rain at the wrong time of year, so I have to ensure the crown of the plant is well aerated using perlite and gravel. My Gisela is very small due to lack of feed, but I have moved it. Michael Weinart (of www.cypripedium.de/forum) suggests that vigorous hybrids can tolerate full strength soluble fertiliser once every two weeks (species should get quarter strength). In the garden the roots can spread into normal garden soil. This is good if you can reduce the problem (which I have) of worms dragging clay into the crown. This causes crown rot. I have used pond lily baskets to good effect, but most have holes exactly the same size as cyp roots so they pass through and cannot be pulled out when replanting. Those in pots do well as long as they never dry out and are fed every two weeks while in growth. Repotting is easy at any time. Just tip out and rinse thoroughly in clean water. I also used fungicides such as Cheshunt Compound (copper based), especially with new plants, as this reduces the likelyhood of death. It works, as some of my plants are now 10 years old.

[Joakim B]

Anthony Thanks for the growing advice. Interesting to know how others "do it" and then take the best parts.

I have grown mine more in the substrate of Malmgren with garden soil but with with added grit and some composted bark. Then putting them in pots with styrofoam in the bottom and then putting the pots in drained tub with some soil but a layer of coarse grit in the bottom. I can not recommend growing cyps like that unless You can control if they need water since that is very well drained. Being a weekend gardner that is not enough attention for seedlings but adult plants survive but not much more . I have them covered in the winter. I will try to replant them into a better situation. We fight slugs,voles and deers so I have to have that in consideration when planting. The seedlings were eaten by isopods. The type that normally is nice and grey and rolls into a ball when touched. They decapitate the seadlings .

Should replantation only be done when dormant or can the plant (with soil/compost) be moved into a new place when still green?

Edited later This takes place in Sweden not Portugal. So now I am not even a weekend gardner for my Cyps, but they have my mother peeping on them.

Kind regards
Joakim

[Anthony Darby]

Curiously, slugs don't seem to attack my plants (touch wood), but this could be due to the surrounding mulch of gravel and perlite? I have moved my plants in full growth with no problems. The medium they are growing in is so loose that it easily falls away without damaging the roots. I think if you are going to divide the plant, at the start of the growing season may be best? It is not something I do as I am not a nursery gardener so have no need to multiply them.

[Slug Killer]

Four nose Cyp henryi taken today. It's been like this for four days now and does not want to open any further. Would have liked to take photo in natural light outside but its windy and wet (UK bank holiday weather).



Dave

[Anthony Darby]

What a superb plant. Not one I have succeeded with.

[johanneshoeller]

Some Cyps from my garden (weekend).
I have some pics from the nature (Cyp. calc.). Interest?

[Maggi Young]

Oh, yes, Hans, we are interested in your pix from nature

[ranunculus]

Wonderful cyps Hans ... very envious!

[johanneshoeller]

Some calceolus (with wonderful petals, very high-1m!, large flowers,...)

[johanneshoeller]

And the last pics

[art600]

I think I have died and gone to heaven

[Lvandelft]

Despite all the other Hybrids you showed Hans, the C. calceolus in nature
are the most beautiful for me to see.
Thanks a lot for showing. really GREAT!

[Maggi Young]

In pic two of post 116, slide dscf3848, I see that the whole of a pouch of a flower has "gone"... eaten away by something, i suppose... what would do that?

Hans, these are wonderfully large, strong plants, what a pleasure to see them, thank you!

[johanneshoeller]

Maggi, I think it was a slug or a caterpillar.
The pics do not show the real beauty of these Cyps, but every year it is a great pleasure for me to see such excellent Cyps.