My 2010 cypripediums

[luis]

My first cyp of the year is japonicum...

[Maren]

Very nice, congratulations.

Why don't you tell us in your signature or elsewhere where you live. Then we can apply an understanding of your local conditions to the appreciation of your plants.

[luis]

Thank's! I live in central Portugal, in Batalha ( near Fátima). 

[Maren]

Very interesting, that explains your early start.

[luis]

 . Yes, the warm temp meke them pop up earlier. It seems not many people like it in this blog.

[Gail]

. Yes, the warm temp meke them pop up earlier. It seems not many people like it in this blog.

I think many people like it Luis - we are all just stunned into silence.  A really beautiful plant and I am very envious!

[Ragged Robin]

Astonishing to see such a lovely cypripedium looking positively tropical for you Luis in Portugal when there is still snow outside here in the Alps!!!!  Please keep posting your lovely flowers 

[luis]

 . Thank you to all... i'm more happy now!

[angie]

Hi Luis, thanks for showing your cypipedium, mine haven't even broke through the soil yet and I hope they will after the cold winter that they have had they might not. Any more please.
Angie

[Peter Maguire]

Hello Luis,
Good to see someone's Cypripediums are moving already, my most advanced plant is currently 5mm above soil level. 

[luis]

Yes, but don´t worry because the day temp here go arround 16 to 18 C, and very very sunny . They grow more rappidly in this conditions.

[Joakim B]

Luis are You able to have it in the ground all year?
I thought it needed a little colder winter but this winter was cold in Portugal so maybe it is enough?
Do You protect it from the summer heat or how do You do? Do they go dormant in august or do they continue to be green until later?
Very interesting to see Cypripedium survive and thrive in Portugal.
Well done
Joakim

[luis]

Hi joakim, here the winther is cold enouf... but the summer is more difficult... i think i have to cover it with pine needles or so... . It's the first time i try it! Anny sugestions? 

[Peter Maguire]

Luis,
I would think that your challenge would be to keep the plant actively growing throughout the season.
Up here in Newcastle, I keep my (potted) cypripediums cool and moist in summer with automatic irrigation (sprinkler) in the morning for 10 minutes, sometimes also in the late afternoon on hot days. They also only recieve direct sunlight for about an hour or so each day.
Your plants should stay cooler in the ground, but looking at your location, you may have to carry out supplementary watering to prevent the plants dying down too early in the season, which would eventually weaken them, and shade during the hottest part of the day would be desirable.
Of course C. japonicum is one of the cypripediums that I have kiiled.....

Peter

[biodiversite]

Luis, you have C. formosanum and not C. japonicum, darker and with a different shape of the flower.