Cypripedium formosanum...is it a goner?

[Pinkeed]

I guess I will try to repot with the 2 pot system and see what happens. I don't think it will hurt anything at this point.

I cleaned it up a bit (after unpotting it again) and it does seem like many of the roots are still alive, but I have no rhizomes (unless you count the clearly dead one at the top).

I know I should probably give up on growing it, but I'm determined to make it work.

So maybe put it outside and see what happens....

[Leafmite]

Are any of the roots good? Do they feel firm when you squeeze them? If not, I think it is not viable.

This orchid would not be impossible to grow with your conditions but the growing conditions would need a bit of tinkering. I think you would need to set something up on your balcony. They sell shelf-type cold frames used for protecting seedling vegetables and even seedling heat mats. You would probably need to weight it down and, then, further insulate it with bubble wrap in the winter. If it gets very cold, plug in the seedling heat mat to keep it from getting too cold. When temperatures are warmer, you can use the double pot method to help keep it cooler and leave it on the balcony to get good breezes.

I haven't tried the Cyps as I am not really into the slipper orchids. I have one member of the group, a noID Phrag that came free with an order.

---------- Post added at 04:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:08 PM ----------

I see you have good roots. Give it a try.

[PaphMadMan]

Cyp formosanum is actually a fairly easy plant to manage as a potted plant indoors part of the year, certainly the easiest of any Cyp. It is best managed with refrigeration for dormancy, in early spring bring it out to the coolest brightly lit window available, much like forcing spring bulbs indoors. Enjoy it while it flowers, put it outside after chance of frost has passed, and leave it out until it dies back, usually early fall but maybe not until frost, then cycle back to refrigeration. It isn't nearly as heat sensitive as some have expressed, though it can be prone to spider mites in warm low humidity conditions.

It really isn't an easy choice for year round outdoor culture in our zone, 5a. It would probably not be fully hardy. It has such a short dormancy requirement that it tends to try to grow way too early in spring this far north, and quickly killed when winter cold returns, or smothered under mulch and rots.

When you bought it dormant there should have been a large whitish winter bud, perhaps starting to sprout. It should be planted with that bud partly exposed. Too deep and you invite rot, especially if anything damages the bud. It seems to me you may have under-watered it. In the right substrate it is actually hard to over-water as long as it is well aerated and doesn't stay saturated. In too heavy a mix it will just rot no matter what.

This species tends to put up new growths several inches or more away from the mature growth. For this reason it is best grown in a wide but relatively shallow container.

[Leafmite]

It sounds like how I grow my Pleione.

[Pinkeed]

Thank you everyone for all the advice!!!!!

I have re-potted it outdoors in a shallow 9.5 in. terracotta pot with the same substrate, then placed into a tin pot. The bottom is lined with charcoal mostly to avoid any sitting in water issues. I did put some bark chips on top as I didn't have mulch. I also added sand in between the pots to help keep the roots cool. We'll see how it goes!

Leafmite I will have to look into outdoor growing equipment. I don't know too much about it.

PaphMadMan If I try it again, as I don't have too much hope for this one I will definitely follow your suggestions.