My 2010 cypripediums

[johanneshoeller]

No, it is reginae x fargesii or lichiangense

[TheOnionMan]

I have two ripening seed pods on Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens.  Would it be silly or futile for me to try sowing these in some sort of situation outdoors.  Any experiences or recommendations?

[Stephen Vella]

Mark have you not seen any germinate around your plant?? Also do you use a bark mulch around this Cyp as it seems that terestial orchids will germinate on this medium in favourable conditions. Just going by some experience with native orchids here and Dactyl's. Cyp reginae is known to germinate in garden situations. You can only try in some differant suituations, growing mediums and locations considering the thousands of seeds produced.

cheers
Stephen

[TheOnionMan]

Mark have you not seen any germinate around your plant?? Also do you use a bark mulch around this Cyp as it seems that terestial orchids will germinate on this medium in favourable conditions. Just going by some experience with native orchids here and Dactyl's. Cyp reginae is known to germinate in garden situations. You can only try in some differant suituations, growing mediums and locations considering the thousands of seeds produced.

cheers
Stephen

Yes, I use bark mulch around my plants (pine bark mulch), the cyps seem to enjoy that.  In the 5-6 years I've grown these, never seen a seedling, nor on my C. reginae.  My guess is the beds are generally too dry to nurture tine seedlings through the drier summer months, although quite honestly I don't remember ever seeing a seed pod on them, until just these two pods on pubescens this year.  My cyps are also slightly elevated on purpose for better drainage in winter months.  Maybe I should make a slightly depressed area or bowl, and cover with decayed bark mulch. 

I have a friend a few towns north of me, in southern New Hampshire, where he gets lots of self-sown seedling colonies of C. reginae, but they're literally growing under swamp conditions; my garden is so much drier, quite the opposite of a swamp or wetland.

You've given me some encouragement to try them in a couple of situation, hopefully I can improvise something.

[Maggi Young]

I have a friend a few towns north of me, in southern New Hampshire, where he gets lots of self-sown seedling colonies of C. reginae, but they're literally growing under swamp conditions

Oh, my word..... imagine that!!  ....sigh!

[TheOnionMan]

I have a friend a few towns north of me, in southern New Hampshire, where he gets lots of self-sown seedling colonies of C. reginae, but they're literally growing under swamp conditions

Oh, my word..... imagine that!!  ....sigh!

Yes, the garden of George Newman is quite wild and extraordinary, many acres in size, much of it wetland, accommodating many hundreds of different native North American plants, many of them in a "naturalized" state.  The area where his best self-sown clumps of C. reginae are growing is very wet; here are two photos taken on a mosquito-infested rainy day, and one of C. kentuckiense that prefers drier conditions.  The really extraordinary thing about his garden, are the Sarracenias, he grows just about every species and natural hybrid, both tender and many hardy ones, along with other insectivorous plants.

[Maggi Young]

Superb! McMark, your friend George is one fortunate chap.... I think even I would brave the "mozzies" to see that garden!

[Stephen Vella]

Really nice picks, beautifull!! Mark nothing beats seeing native orichids in the wild.

Yes I can see how this one favours very moist conditions, i keep losing some when its too dry in pot culture, must plant them in the ground.

Theres a recently new book out on North American Orchids culture ,not that I can remeber the title but it does mention and show how to build an artificial swamp for ones like C reginae. I have a dam now, i wonder how they would go on the edge of it...now you got me thinking??

[Anthony Darby]

I have some green seed pods of calceolus (at least). If anyone has the technology to germinate them send me an email.

[Anthony Darby]

Here is my 40 nosed Cypripedium X Ventricosum today. I've started splitting it and will be selling off divisions. These range from 19 noses down to 3. Not bad for a plant that started as a single nose from Ian Christie.

[Slug Killer]

Good grief that is an amazing looking Cyp. I'd don't envy you trying to split it all as it looks a very tight bunch.

How long did it take you from single nose to forty nose?

[Anthony Darby]

Good grief that is an amazing looking Cyp. I'd don't envy you trying to split it all as it looks a very tight bunch.

How long did it take you from single nose to forty nose?

Twelve years. You're right. Splitting it is not easy. I wish I didn't have to.

[Anthony Darby]

Michael Weinert (www.cypripedium.de/forum) is preparing an English version of his youtube video on splitting cyps. He seems to be quite brutal!

[Maggi Young]

Michael Weinert (www.cypripedium.de/forum) is preparing an English version of his youtube video on splitting cyps. He seems to be quite brutal!

 Isn't violence to plants the same in any language, especially in a video 

[Anthony Darby]

Judge for yourself.

[youtube]   [/youtube]

 edited by Maggi to embed video........