Cypripedium Dormancy Help

[jasperlja8]

I have a cypripedium (yellow lady slipper) as an indoor plant, and I know that dormancy is reccomended, but I am not sure how to do so. Do I set it out in a cold garage? do I just leave it alone? do I trin the dead stem and leaves off?

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board.

I don't grow these. I think they need a very cold winter dormancy. I suggest you look up posts by OB user Subrosa. The Search function is in the top maroon menu.

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Welcome to the Orchid Board.

I don't grow these. I think they need a very cold winter dormancy. I suggest you look up posts by OB user Subrosa. The Search function is in the top maroon menu.

I don't grow either of the 2 yellows yet, although they're definitely on the list when I get the new fen bed done. My first thought when I hear someone asking how to care for a native is "put it in the ground as Nature intended", but that's probably not an option here. Once above ground parts of the plant have turned brown it can go into an unlit space for the winter, the colder the better down to about 25°F, give or take. It would need to be kept suitably moist during the dormancy.

---------- Post added at 07:06 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:03 AM ----------

Originally Posted by jasperlja8

I have a cypripedium (yellow lady slipper) as an indoor plant, and I know that dormancy is reccomended, but I am not sure how to do so. Do I set it out in a cold garage? do I just leave it alone? do I trin the dead stem and leaves off?

Once the stem and leaves are brown and can be detached without uprooting the plant you can remove them.

[Ray]

FWIW, I unpotted mine and stuck them in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator.

[tmoney]

Originally Posted by Ray

FWIW, I unpotted mine and stuck them in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator.

you have a very tolerant partner, ray!

[dbarron]

Originally Posted by Ray

FWIW, I unpotted mine and stuck them in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator.

Wow, look at these parsnips I just peeled, or were they chinese burdock roots? Anyway, I got them on for supper.

[Relemitty]

Is that so unusual?
I had a zip lock bag with moist potting soil and 20 Japanese Red Maple seeds in the back of the fridge for 3 months one winter.
An experiment that produced NO seedlings. Sigh!

[tmoney]

Originally Posted by Relemitty

Is that so unusual?
I had a zip lock bag with moist potting soil and 20 Japanese Red Maple seeds in the back of the fridge for 3 months one winter.
An experiment that produced NO seedlings. Sigh!

well, i have 1/4 of the top shelf with pollinia in coffee filter bags, but thats a lot different than plants in the crisper drawer! my partner (who is the true plant whisperer of the pair of us, i am only the mechanic) would not have plants in the fridge....we still have our bouts with plants in the bedroom

\i would argue to find a suitable location outside of the primary food storage location, if only for the sake of your relationship. it may seem fine.....and i would hesitate to go against rays suggestions....but you know we threw a hybrid dendrobium into the garden last spring and literally have not touched it since then...it looks amazing. so i think an outdoor location may be found if you gave it enough thought

2nd edit to add...i also grow bonsai and did that same thing about 15 years ago...i am no longer with that partner



sorry, had to add that caveat

[MCD]

Originally Posted by Relemitty

Is that so unusual?
I had a zip lock bag with moist potting soil and 20 Japanese Red Maple seeds in the back of the fridge for 3 months one winter.
An experiment that produced NO seedlings. Sigh!

Are your conditions not cold enough for them to germinate naturally outside? I'm lucky that I can dig out a few dozen seedlings every year. They're fragile when small, so they very rarely survive another winter if left to their own devices.

[Relemitty]

I am in 7a.
No, I have never seen seedlings in the spring and have looked.
2 years ago my tree had a huge amount of seeds and I read this article:
How to Germinate a Japanese Red Maple Seed | Home Guides | SF Gate
Followed it to the letter.
No seedlings.

This year my tree has a small amount of seeds and I'm gonna collect em and put a little compost over em in a area near the tree and see what happens next spring.