cyps in pots 2012

[mark smyth]

Tesco N Ireland doesnt stock Sophistocat Pink but I can buy it mail order from other sources

[John Aipassa]

Your parviflorum is very beautiful Stephen as is your formosanum. They look quite oriental don't they these formosanum leaves.

Get the courage to plant out in the garden Stephen. These Cyps look even better when in a garden/natural setting.

[angie]

Stephen your Cyps, are lovely. I can't wait till mine flower next year.

Angie 

[Stephen Vella]

That's Angie and John,
There's an article that I came across about a gardener who managed to flower or after his death of a formosanum with hundreds if not thousands of flowers by removing flower buds before opening to get a bigger clump.. Be sad if he didn't see it but after his death the clump disappeared

[brianw]

I wash my Sophisticat Pink in a leaky plastic bucket. Fill it with SP, fill with water a couple of times, and most of the dust is at the bottom. Washes the deodoriser out too, although it does not seem to worry anything I have used unwashed SP on. I use most of it for plants other than Cyps. It is less offensive than perlite. Maybe we could persuade them to produce a version with vine weevil insecticide instead of deodoriser 

Seems to be several Pets at Home stores in Ireland, by the job offers.

[John Aipassa]

That's Angie and John,
There's an article that I came across about a gardener who managed to flower or after his death of a formosanum with hundreds if not thousands of flowers by removing flower buds before opening to get a bigger clump.. Be sad if he didn't see it but after his death the clump disappeared

What happened with the clump ?

[mark smyth]

Thanks Brian I've ordered some.

[Stephen Vella]

What happened with the clump ?

Some divisions were passed onto enthusiast and the rest stolen

[Neil]

Regarding a source for pumice at a cheaper price 45ltrs for £35 +10.20 delivery or spend over £75 and delivery is free.

http://www.greendragonbonsai.co.uk/BONSAI_SOIL_AT_GREEN_DRAGON_BONSAI.htm

[Norberg]

Hi,

My first post in this forum so i thought it would be nice to do it in this nice tread! 

You who have your pots stored in the garage, greenhouse or similar during the winter and use perlite, seramis, pumice or similar non organic mix in the pots.
What are your watering regime during winter dormancy, if temp is above 0 degrees?
And is there any preferable temp to keep hybrids in during winter?

[Maren]

Hi,
whether your cypripediums are inside or out, the same principle applies: never let them dry out and make sure they are not waterlogged.

Regarding temperatures, most of them prefer it cooler rather than warmer. A steady even temperature is more important than sticking to a specific degree C. In the wild, these plants do not get great fluctuations of temperature in the winter, so that is something to be avoided. I shade my pots all through the year and give them an additional mulch of woodchips in winter to ensure that the sun does not warm the pot and induce a break of dormancy.

Hope this helps.

[Maggi Young]

Welcome to the Forum, Norberg!

[Norberg]

Thanks Maren. Ok if it should never dry out during dormancy when the pot is not frozen its straightforward with the watering.

Is there any lower temp levels that is to be avoided? I read somewere that below -10 could be a problem if they are in pots.
I have one place that will be around 5 C maybe a little higer and on that will be almost as cold as it is outside here in Sweden (unheated brick house). Then i assume it will be better in the heated place, what do you think?

Thanks Maggi.

[angie]

Hi Norberg,

Nice to have you here, it's a great forum. The members are like one big family.

Thats how I killed my first Cyps. I thought they were so tender and kept them dry and cosy under my greenhouse staging. I just thought because of the cold and wet that we have here in Aberdeen they would need some protection.

Anthony Darby keep his Cyps, without much protection and he has said that they got temperatures of -21c. I was lucky enough to acquire some of his Cyps, before he left for warmer climates. These have flowered lovely. I just have them in a cold frame and this is just to keep them safe, it gets real windy here and my pots normally get blown about.

Hope you have good success with your Cyps, looking forward to see your pictures of your flowers in the new year.

Angie 

[Maren]

I couldn't put it better myself, Angie. Mine are outside winter and summer. They sit in cages to keep the rabbits out, but not the weather. In the spring/summer, I cover the cages with some shading. In the winter I put a plastic sheet over the top (used fertiliser bags flattened and stapled to the wooden frame usually). That just keeps the rain off but lets the air through the sides. Works well for me.