cyps in pots 2012

[Stephen Vella]

Cyp formosanum has a running rhyzome at 4/5cm so it will carpet the ground and it forks out in pairs, this year every bud had a flower and I think it's because it's making the most of a good thing with the fresh mix and peaks in its second and third year of repotting. I've had this plant for 10 years but it has been split in half and the other half who another gardener has managed 24 flowers. This same plant I have seen decline in vigor to only 3 buds 6 years ago and I can only think that the organic mix went sour and it dried out. So when I rescued it into some fresh mix with weekly waterings and proper feeding it has peaked to this.. I think I will have to get a bigger bowl as its about to fill out, as it will double in size next year

[Botanica]

Hello

Yesterday i received a donation of young (in vitro) Cypripedium by a forumist for my collection  . So cool !
A very nice gift for me and my collection.





They return in my garden in spring probably.

[John Aipassa]

That's a nice gift. Good luck with raising them.

[Maggi Young]

Hello

Yesterday i received a donation of young (in vitro) Cypripedium by a forumist for my collection  . So cool !
A very nice gift for me and my collection.





They return in my garden in spring probably.

Another example of the incredibly generous and helpful nature of Forumists  - does my heart good!

[Botanica]

Yes Maggi,

This person produce cypripedium by seeding and have, like me, a passion about cypripedium ....and other some orchids.
I am happy to have take my adhesion of SRGC and find this forum because i have found numbers of nice persons in this forum.
They help me to exchange and increase the diversity of my Botanica(l) garden  .
I have send some seed this year to the association SRGC for seed exchange but this year i have not a great diversity available but i hope next year i could share with you more quantity and more diversity.

Maggy (Young) , i've seen Ian Young's Bulb Log this week, an incredible garden, it's you family ?
Many many plants to see all over the year , i've seen that all over this week
It's a professional ?

Bye.

[Maggi Young]

Maggy (Young) , i've seen Ian Young's Bulb Log this week, an incredible garden, it's you family ?
Many many plants to see all over the year , i've seen that all over this week
It's a professional ?

Bye.

Yes, Ian is my husband - plants are a family obsession  and we are passionate about the SRGC.

[mark smyth]

Fabulous quality in those young Cyps.

Several years ago there was discussion on using a certain cat litter for orchid composts. Can anyone remember which was the best to use?

[Maggi Young]

Mark, try Paul's advice /extensive information about Biosorb/cat litter/ultrasorb in his Wisley logs numbers 18 and 19

E.G.http://www.srgc.org.uk/wisley/2008/100908/log.html

and a  cautionary tale  :  http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=6275.0

[Maggi Young]

Also there are these threads :
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=4294.0    "Cat Litter Thread"

http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=2394.0

http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=4665.0

http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=5691.0


http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=6620.0

http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=6824.0

[Maren]

Cypripediums can be re-potted at any time without detriment to plant or flower, provided the plant
is watered immediately. This is what I use:
•     1 part pumice (medium grade 3 – 5 mm)
•     1 part Perlite (supercoarse)
•     1 part Seramis (see Seramis substitute below).
Pumice is a volcanic material, imported from the Continent, which makes it rather expensive and
scarce. Buy Pumice online: http://www.specialistaggregates.com/ pumice-gravel-p-1540.html. If you
can’t find Pumice, substitute with the other materials.
Perlite (Supercoarse) can be found in good garden centres or online. Don’t go for the medium size
as it soon crushes and turns to dust. Perlite comes with a lot of dust that needs to be washed off,
see method below.
Seramis can be difficult to find. An excellent substitute is a non-clumping cat litter called
“Sophisticat Pink”, which can be obtained from good pet shops or on- line. Not all cat litters are
the same and you will have to ask for this particular one. It comes in a 30 litre bag (£9.18) or 8
litres (£3.87)> I buy mine from Pets at Home.
The material is of pink colour and has quite a lot of dust, which needs to be washed away. Method: fill a bucket with water, pour in as much cat litter as the bucket will take, stir vigorously to dislodge the dust and pour away the liquid. This needs to be done twice. If you find it difficult to pour away the liquid, just fish out the granules using a kitchen sieve. This is a nice material to work with; it is highly absorbent and maintains moisture in the pot for a long time.

[angie]

Maren, thanks for all that information. 

Angie 

[Stephen Vella]

Cyps flowering in the southern hemisphere..

[Stephen Vella]

And the pastel version, so vigorous is this hybrid even in pots. I havnt dared to plant out in the garden.

[Stephen Vella]

My second time flowering of C parviflorum. 9 yrs of growing from 2nd yr old flask plants. Such patients is needed with these and the clumps have doubled but the flowers are so small in these species. Hybrids are so more rewarding.

[Stephen Vella]

See the large leaves of C formosanum like fans and growing in a clay bowl..with Gisela which I will have to get out.