Anyone growing cypripediums?

[koshki]

Hi all,
I've been giving some consideration to taking my orchid obession outdoors. I remember wild lady slippers from when I was a little girl living near Niagara Falls in New York. They would grow in areas near Jack-in-the-pulpits (are they orchids, too?) and trillum.

I've read they like early morning sun only. I have such a place, but I'd like to know what other culture requirements they need. I believe that area in New York is colder than I am in here (probably zone 4 versus 6 here). I do have a few Jack-in-the-pulpits and trillium growing in my garden, but not the cypripediums.

I'd love to hear about what your experience has been. Of course, I would only purchase legally propogated plants, not thinking to transplant from the wild here!

[orchids4me]

Hi Koshki,
I don't have an answer but I'm interested in learning this. I reserved a couple flasks of these it will be awhile before are ready though and was thinking the other day to post a thread with the same question you have here.
Thanks for posting this thread
Emmaye

[kmarch]

Cypripedium candidum, Cypripedium reginae, Cypripedium acaule, and Cypripedium calceolus are all native to Michigan. You should be able to do a little bit of research on wild flowers of Michigan or wild orchids of Michigan to see if any of these grow in your area. Come of these orchids can be found for sale, cultivated by nurseries (collection of them are strictly prohibited). Also your local orchid society may be able to provide you with more info on growing them.

Jack in the Pulpit and Trillium are not orchids.

[sunshine]

Lady slippers are so pretty. We have them up here in Maine. I have some pictures somewhere in my computer. The pink and whites don't transplant very well. My mom has a big clump of yellow lady slippers that has been in the family for a very long time. They do like the morning sun, cool shaded area. Here in Maine lady slippers are protected. As far as I know I have never heard of anybody being arrested for picking/digging up these flowers.Here is a link where you can buy lady slippers.

CYPRIPEDIUMS FOR SALE- Vermont Ladyslipper Company

Cypripedium and other Orchids from Hillside Nursery - Lady-slipper Orchids and Select Woodland Wildflowers

It maybe too late this year to plant but more time to plan an area to plant.

[exasperatus2002]

I've been interested in them too but my local native plant nursery wont carry them because they're afraid they'll get poached orchids. Theres a few sites online I've found but I havent ordered yet.

[koshki]

Wow, they're not cheap, are they! I remember seeing a guy at our annual OS show last spring, selling bare roots in bags. I didn't realize that you could buy plants. The spot I have in mind is currently filled with an overgrown hosta that needs to be divided, which will have to wait for spring anyway.

Anyway, I was hoping to hear someone who's had experience growing them in the garden to see what they're like.

[tocarmar]

I have been growing them in a north facing garden (zone 6) for about 3 years now. I keep them in pots & bury them about 3/4 in the dirt ( easy to breed them). In winter time they get a good mulching. I did plant some pubesence in the ground this past fall to see how they do. Hybrids are easier to do then species but if they are large & you transplant them when they are dormant they should take off..

[Daethen]

I have been wanting to grow these as well. Anyone taken the plunge and given them a try?

[PaphMadMan]

There are plenty of artificially propagated Cypripediums out there. Hybrid Cyps and species Cyps in flask or freshly out of flask are never wild collected, and you can be almost completely sure that even the mature size species plants from the same sources are legitimate. Any species plants at local garden centers that don't clearly come from that type of source are suspect.

Sunshine posted links to a couple legitimate sources above. Also check out these:

Gardens at Post Hill

Plant Delights

Any of those websites are your best source for supplies and cultural instructions too, and there are certainly more good sources out there. Almost all the commonly available species and hybrids will do just fine in zone 6, but make sure you learn the correct conditions for the specific species or hybrids you choose. They're not all the same so generic recommendations for Cyps are pretty meaningless.

Many of the hybrids are easier to grow than the species, though the North American yellow-flowered species (Cyp pubescens, Cyp parviflorum and especially Cyp kentuckiense which has truly huge flowers) and white/pink Cyp reginae are all fairly easy. Cyp acaule is not easy, and also the one most commonly seen as wild collected plants. All Cyps are very rewarding plants to grow if you are successful. Good luck.

Oh.. and Jack-in-the-Pulpit is an aroid, not at orchid.

[tocarmar]

I have ordered seedlings from Ron last spring. I did order plants from Plant Delights but not cyps. Yes acaule is hard to grow, they are very touchy about having their roots disturbed, I have some going on 3 years this year in pots. I am going to plant a few in the ground this year as they will need a repot.

[janet_a]

I've been wanting to try these, but so far have been put off by the price and the fact I'd need to grow them in pots on the front steps. My HOA already gives me a hard time about pots on the steps, and if they actually bloomed I'd be afraid someone would try and steal 'em.

[Daethen]

I have a pretty good setup to grow them outside, I think. Now if I can just afford them. We live in a sandy area and I have all the trees and bushes rung with wood chips. We have lots of pines in our area so the soil is somewhat acidic.

[LauraGR]

Winsome Nursery here in the Twin cities sells yellow and pink showy ladyslippers every spring, bare root. They buy from a grower in Canada, and assure us that they are never picked wild. I bought a couple a few years ago and they didn't survive the winter, but I wasn't too careful that winter and didn't give them any extra care. i also want to get some more info on the soil bacteria they crave to be healthy. They grow wild all over northern Minnesota, down from all over the whole state as they were 50 years ago.

[PaphMadMan]

Originally Posted by LauraGR

Winsome Nursery here in the Twin cities sells yellow and pink showy ladyslippers every spring, bare root. They buy from a grower in Canada, and assure us that they are never picked wild. I bought a couple a few years ago and they didn't survive the winter, but I wasn't too careful that winter and didn't give them any extra care. i also want to get some more info on the soil bacteria they crave to be healthy. They grow wild all over northern Minnesota, down from all over the whole state as they were 50 years ago.

I encourage your interest in learning about the natural soil microbiology, but it is a fungus not a bacteria that is necessary for Cyps growing in the wild, and it is really only necessary for seed germination and early seedling growth. Any seedling out of flask, or larger plant, is beyond the stage when it is needed and will do fine without it in apprropriate soil or potting mix. The fungus itself is probably harder to maintain in most situations than the Cyps.

I would question the legality of the plants supposedly imported by your nursery - or question their story completely. Importation of Cypripediums to the US is illegal without proof of them being artifically propagated - essentially they must be in flask at the time.

[koshki]

It was fun to see this thread pop up again...I thought I'd update my experience with cyps.

This past spring, I purchased 6 plants from the Gardens at Post Hill (GPH): four reginae and two hybrids. The reginaes bloomed, the Phillip blasted and the Ulla Silkens seemed to struggle, then either died or went dormant in the middle of the summer.

I planted them in a raised bed on the north side of my house (actually in front of the sunroom where I keep my 'chids during the winter). I dug out most of the dirt I had dumped in there the summer before, and replaced it with a mixture of Espoma Soil Perfector and play sand, according to Ron Burch's (from GPH) advice. That spot is next to the sprinkler, so the bed gets a lot of water, but drains very well. I fed them regularly with bloom booster (also at Ron's suggestion). I also had to spread some stinky rabbit repellent around because the bunnies got at a couple shoots early on.

Here are some bloom photos. I didn't get a ton, but I did get some, which was great!

I'm looking forward to growth and more blooms next spring.

[tocarmar]

Very nice blooms!! I'm looking forward to see them in the spring also!!

[Brooke]

Gorgeous!

Brooke

[Stelios]

looks great!

[orchidlover55]

Wow Katherine I had never heard that name before but they are beautiful I looked at the link Sunshine posted. Thanks for putting an additional orchid to my wish list

[Daethen]

Katherine, I have also heard that human hair spread around the plants will deture bunnies and such. Most barber shops will keep some for you if you decide to go that route.