About Cypripedium

Propagating and growing
Cypripediums

There are approximately 45 different Cypripedium species in the world. Several are rather easily grown as garden plants if you can bring about some precautions
concerning light, drainage, winter protection etc.
Unfortunately their attractively in combination with their rarity has promoted an extensive illegal trade that continues in spite of international legal protection and prohibition of trade. Presently an extensive illegal import from China of most of its different species is
going on. It is not difficult to find Internet sites with offers of Chinese orchids for very
low prices. In European plant nurseries, the prices then are 10-fold...

This is a good reason for artificial propagation
of Cyps; increased supply means lower prices and also a gradual changeover to Cyp hybrids - which very often are much easier to grow in gardens.

More and more Cyp species nowadays can be propagated in large scale, but just a rather limited number can be considered as being very easy to grow in gardens. On the other hand, with increased number of growers and increased experience, much of the remaining difficulties - and prejudice about this -
will disappear.

Also, very likely, within a number of years the growing
of Cypripediums will be dominated by a limited number of true species and particularly by 8-10-12 Cypripedium hybrids, that will have crystallized into being the garden Cyps par preference. Hopefully the wild plants then can recover their breath.

In most species and hybrids flowering takes place 5 years from sowing ( i. e. a little less than 5 years; sowing is in autumn, flowering early
summer). Some single plants and a few species can produce a number of flowering plants 4 years after
sowing.

Very soon the supply of "half-sized" plants of many
different species and hybrids, i.e. plants of 2- and 3- and 4-years´ age will increase very much - giving much lower prices also for "adult" plants.

We cannot quite recommend the inexperienced to buy Cypripedium plants directly from growing medium - although the Internet is full of offers. These plants are usually one year old, but of varying quality and one-year old plants do need experienced care for survival first year in soil.

Healthy one-year old plants shall have at least one well developed shoot for next year and several long roots. Also, this development stage should be in phase with the growing cycle over the year, i.e. in autumn.

Small plants are strictly speaking not differently to "start up" in soil and grow compared to bigger plants if they are healthy - they are just smaller and therefore more sensitive to drought, heating etc. Adult Cyps have a wide-spread root system, small plants haven't - see pictures.

Given experience and healthy little plants from medium -
which includes normal differentiation, healthy roots etc - an experienced orchid propagator/grower will have 90-100 % survival of most species and hybrids first year in soil. Other results are not satisfaction indicating something substantial is wrong!

After first season in soil most problems are left behind. Now, most plants will survive further growth if you just still adapt growing sites to plant size, root system etc. Winter protection just like for the adult Cyps - and a little
precaution next spring and early summer for drought
and heating. But be very careful with the dormant shoot at the base in autumn and winter, it must be very close to soil surface and have some protection - see pictures!

Cyps prefer a semi-shaded position in the garden. Adult plants blossom better given some sun - small plants might be damaged by heat. Some species and hybrids - Cyp flavum and reginae - have hairy leaves and can stand heat and sun better than other ones.

You don't need to follow complicated recipes of soil
composition. However it must be very well drained - and never too dry. Top layer of soil including decaying leaves from an old forest is usually excellent, maybe mixed up with peat or with sand, depending on drainage. Or use what you think is good "old garden soil"...

Fertilizing is a much discussed issue. Adult plants definitely benefits from that, but be careful with small plants.

It is recommended in late summer, autumn and winter to protect the dormant shoots at soil surface with a little fine gravel - also a good protection against hungry
slugs. Against heavy winter rain, also cover with a tile
or similar. Many more Cyps have died in autumn and winter than in summer, and soon excess water, not rarity.. Danish Cyp growers are very careful with winter protection - whereas Norwegian growers seldom worry - they have snow
cover in winter!

To summarize growing recommendations, every garden owner/grower must find that selection of Cypripedium species and hybrids that fits his/her specific garden and conditions - just like in common gardening! Experience from many different growers will circulate and very much
improve the results outside the arena of the specialists.
There will be some Cyps, suitable for "everyone".

The interested but inexperienced garden owner should without much hesitation buy there-year old Cyp plants. He will get 4 or 5 of them for the price of one 5-year old plant...
There is a very small risk of loosing the plant!

Several more plant nurseries than earlier very soon will buy 2- and 3-year old plants from orchid propagators, grow the plants on for a year or two and have a supply of significantly lower price than up to now! Experience followed by few losses will encourage the plant
nurseries.

Cypripedium macranthos is a very variable species. Here is a rather "classical" one.		Cyp. calceolus, a variety with long, twisted petals
Cyp. 'Ulla Silkens' , spotted flower.		Hybrids between Cyp parviflorum and different Cyp macranthos subspecies are always easy to grow. This is Cyp Parviflorum x x Cyp Rebunense.
Dact Fuchsii and Cyp "Ulla Silkens". Just follow our instructions.....		Difference in size; in the middle Cyp calceolus, on the left Cyp parviflorum x tibeticum, on the right Cyp parviflorum x x Cyp Rebunense.
Plants 2nd year in soil, middle of June. Have spent all winter out- doors in these pots, just covered for heavy frost an heavy rain. Approx 98% survival.		Do not get tempted to divide adult plants. These Cyps are just 4 years old - but have this big root system. Roots are easily broken, shoots easily damaged...
A very important picture: Cyps produce the bud for next year´s shoot just at soil surface. Protect them!!		...for example with some fine gravel...
...and, if you have winter-rain, a little cover.	The same view in late May...		...and in middle of June.
This plant of Cyp macranthos var. hotei-atsumorianum had 24 flowers in 2004. Was potted in soil 10 years earlier, just two little plants taken from medium.		Happy birthday?
The first flowering Cyp "Ulla Silkens" in the world, in 1996.		Approx 10% of Cyp "Ulla Silkens" are pure white.
Germinated Cypripedium seeds, approx 6 months after sowing.		Some Cyps approx 12 months after sowing. To be potted in soil cool, but frost-free late autumn, winter or very early spring.

Approx 1 000 Cyps, frist year in soil. Approx 99% survival in soil.		First year in soil.
First year in soil.		The biggest and the smalleast; in the middle Cyp guttatum, the others are a big Cyp flavum-hybrids Also the Cyp guttatum is very healthy with a new shoot and roots, just a smaller species.
Plants 2nd year in soil, middle of June. Spent winter outdoors.		Cyp flavum 3rd year in soil; will flower next summer.
Cyp "Johnny Petersen" after some years in soil.		Cyp. 'Ulla Silkens", a yellow and spotted flower. There is a big variation in flower "look" in this hybrid. This is a good reason to have several plants of this hybrid!