Cypripedium 2011

[arisaema]

Thanks Maren, it's among my favourite species, incredibly forgiving, easy and reliable in the open garden.

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?

[Peter Maguire]

Lovely Cyp reginae alba photos - I don't know if anyone else sees them the same way, but I always feel that white Cypripedium flowers have a thick, rich texture to them that you don't see when there is a strong colour present.

Angie,
The dark background is black velvet, held up by clothes pegs on the vertical blinds in my photographic studio conservatory. I got some funny looks in the fabric department of John Lewis' when I went in to buy a metre of black velvet.  

[Peter Maguire]

Those Cyp kentuckiense roots don't look too healthy to me, surely they can't be sufficient to support that amount of top growth?. I would expect that the plant will be much smaller next year and would take a year or two to regain it's current size.

I recognise the labelling in the pot, as several nurseries here have been selling those plants this year. I very nearly bought another Cyp kentuckiense recently that looked like a bargain - rather glad I saved my money now.

[arisaema]

> surely they can't be sufficient to support that amount of top growth?

That was my first reaction as well, I'm even more amazed it managed to produce 4 flowering stems! Only paid £20 for it, so can't really complain, but some advice on how to get it to survive (other that deadheading) would be very appreciated.

[Peter Maguire]

I'd probably be inclined to slightly overfeed with a high potash fertilizer to enable it to develop a good root system before the winter - especially a Norwegian winter . There seem to be the beginnings of some good roots there, and you want to encourage them to grow as much as possible this growing season.
I normally feed my Cyps about once every two weeks with about half strength tomato fertilizer, which is probably a little on the low side for the largely pumice based compost I'm using. You could try full strength high potash (tomato or equivalent) fertilizer weekly, but I would make sure that the plant is well watered daily so that the roots aren't damaged by too high a concentration of fertilizer.

[arisaema]

Thank you Peter, will give the heavy feeding regimen a try! It's repotted in my standard mix of two parts cat litter : one part composted bark, normally I'd just throw some Osmocote on top. Salt buildup shouldn't be too much of an issue with all the rain we get, hardiness might, but for 20 bucks it's worth a shot!

[Anthony Darby]

Don't overdo the fertiliser. £20 for a four nosed kentuckiense is rather supsicious?

[arisaema]

Don't overdo the fertiliser. £20 for a four nosed kentuckiense is rather supsicious?

Not really, I got them at wholesale price + freight and VAT, certified as being from cultivated stock on the phyto. Cypripedium are becoming really cheap, 5-6 year old C. reginae cost just €6/plant if you buy a bag of 25.

Edit: This is the web page listed on the packaging.

[Maggi Young]

Don't overdo the fertiliser. £20 for a four nosed kentuckiense is rather supsicious?

Not really, I got them at wholesale price + freight and VAT, certified as being from cultivated stock on the phyto. Cypripedium are becoming really cheap, 5-6 year old C. reginae cost just €6/plant if you buy a bag of 25.

Edit: This is the web page listed on the packaging.

Angela, we need to talk about this!

 Bjørnar, this is temptation even with the root issue.... the thought of laying my hot little hands of the white reginaes is TOO much, even for someone who has tried to avoid Cyps!

[arisaema]

Angela, we need to talk about this!

 Bjørnar, this is temptation even with the root issue.... the thought of laying my hot little hands of the white reginaes is TOO much, even for someone who has tried to avoid Cyps!

LOL! The €6-reginae are regular, pink ones from Darwin, but I checked another wholesale list and if you buy trays of 10 and pick them up in Holland the potted ones cost €10.16/plant. That's for a multi-stemmed plant with flower buds!

[wolfgang vorig]

different Cypripedium in May

[wolfgang vorig]

variable Color in Cypripedium Ulla Silkens

[Maggi Young]

A rich selection you have there, Wolfgang! 

[angie]

Angela, we need to talk about this!

 Bjørnar, this is temptation even with the root issue.... the thought of laying my hot little hands of the white reginaes is TOO much, even for someone who has tried to avoid Cyps!

LOL! The €6-reginae are regular, pink ones from Darwin, but I checked another wholesale list and if you buy trays of 10 and pick them up in Holland the potted ones cost €10.16/plant. That's for a multi-stemmed plant with flower buds!

Just read this I want more. I want a white Cyp, who lives in Holland and are coming over to the discussion weekend in September. Maggi you need these plants how many trays will we order 

Angie

[Maggi Young]

I have contacted the website , Angela.... I agree, we have to get these whites! 
There will be more than one Nederlander coming to the Discussion weekend..... I am making a list!!