Cyps wintering in Colorado?

[Izzie]

I hope I'm not getting ahead of myself, I'm getting really excited.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I have a Cyp growing in pot. Potted culture of Cyps are not impossible.

There are miniature Cyps too.

Cyp. plectrochilum is a miniature.

There's also Cyp. debile. Cyp. micranthum is also a miniature Cyp.

Cyp guttatum is also a miniature Cyp. But the thing about this guy is that it likes it very, very cold (it's abundant in places as far north as Alaska). Someone on Ebay may still be selling flasks of this species, idk. However, I wouldn't recommend getting them now, orchid seedlings are very touchy creatures.

Cyps are for the most part frost hardy. But it's best to not expose them to the snow.

I think the issue would be the expense of the plants themselves. Many of them cost $50 - $70. You can still get Cyp. reginae and Cyp. pubescens for roughly $25 on Ebay. Be aware that Cyp reginae and Cyp pubescens are not small plants (I believe they're both around 3 ft tall).

Cypripediums can be particular about the type of soil they grow in.

I didn't want to answer this question right away because I'm not the go to guy on this subject. This is still a relatively new venture for me.

[slipperfreak]

Izzie - I sent you a reply to your PM. Yes Cyps will overwinter in your area and growing them in the ground is the best way to grow them - that's how they grow naturally! Check out my reply and feel free to ask me any questions you may have. I've been growing Cyps for as long as I've been growing orchids - about 9 years.

[Izzie]

Thanks for the ideas Joe and Philip!