Cypripedium 2011

[Maren]

Hi Angie,
it's only difficult the first time, gets easier after that, especially with a Sat Nav.
I'm only going for a couple of days. On Wednesday I have to get ready for the Peterborough Orchid Show (Part of the East of England Agricultural show), which takes place from Friday 17th to Sunday. I have a friend helping me with my display etc., which means I can watch the birds of prey displays, see the horses and a bit of the jumping competition and stroke the cuddly alpaccas. Last year one of the young shire horses got a bit excited and went all over the place, knocking down a woman (not seriously though). Such fun !!! 

[ian mcenery]

Possibly the last cyps for me Cyp californicum

and the second though not a cyp it is an orchid a clump of Dactylorhiza

[Peter Maguire]

Lovely plant Ian, it looks to be thriving there.

[Anthony Darby]

I thought californicum wasn't frost hardy.

[Maren]

Hi Anthony,

my Cyp. californicum grow outside without protection and they haven't complained yet, even after last year's winter.

Ian,

your clump of dactylorhizas look so happy, a joy to behold.

[ian mcenery]

Thank you Peter and Maren strangely I have never been sure that I had this in the correct spot  but it has chosen to flower at its best so far

[Maren]

Here is my last Cyp kentuckiense of the year. It was protected by a bamboo hedge.

[angie]

Very nice Maren 
Here is Cyp, Philipp
and a pot of Dactylorhiza ?
Angie

[Maren]

Well done Angie, you're not just a pretty face.

[arisaema]

I just received some Dutch-grown plants thru a friend, C. reginae 'Album' had  very nice and healthy roots, but C. kentuckiense surprised me! Do they always have such a small root system? Also, how much sun can it take in the garden?

Thought you might like an update on the £20 kentuckiense, it's grown quite a lot of new roots over the summer:

[Peter Maguire]

That looks very promising - are there any other buds for next year apart from the tewo which are visible in the photo? If so, then it has not come to too much harm from having a small root system.

[arisaema]

There's a bud on each shot, but it's a bit too early to tell if they're flowering sized...

[Peter Maguire]

Don't build your hopes up, I had 56 buds on my Cyprepedium formosanum this year..........5 flowers resulted.

[Slug Killer]

Peter

You may find that due to non flowering this year it will have produced even more shoots for next year, fingers crossed.

[Jeff Hutchings]

Hi Arisaema,

The plants from Holland have been quite interesting. I have about 30 left of the trolley load I bought. These were repotted into 2 lt pots using my own mix along with the mix they were in. I did this in late May because the plants could not get enough water from my overhead spray system. Looking at the kentuckiense that had 7 flowers this year, the buds are not as big as I would like because the plants stayed in flower for a long time. hopefully they will keep growing for a few more weeks before going dormant.

I am still surprised that any of the types offered grew as well as they did as the code on the side seemed to indicate they had been put into the small pots in 2008. I have been told there will be large numbers available again next spring.

I would recommend protecting kentuckiense in the winter as they do not like temperatures that go below minus 10, especially if they are planted out.

Kind Regards
Jeff