Cypripedium reginae in flower earlier in the year

[RosieC]

Another set of Cyp pictures from my unsorted batch earlier in the year.

This is my second year with Cyp reginae and it had a third flower (on a second growth) compared to last years pair.

The first shows the first flower open and before I turned the pot to point the flowers outward.

I love the pink pouch on these and I think the colour was deeper this year than last year.

[FairyInTheFlowers]

Wow, that is fabulous!!! I SOOO want to get one next spring.

[ronaldhanko]

Just simply gorgeous.

[WhiteRabbit]

Such a beauty! Good growing, Rosie!

Beautiful blooms! Do you grow them outside?

[RosieC]

Thanks everyone

Yes they are grown outside, and need the winter cold. They die back to underground every winter (well actually from august onwards). They winter under the medium then pop up again next spring.

I've heard of people in warmer climates putting them in the fridge or even freezer in the winter to give them the required chill. Someone in Canada told me they have some Cyps wintering outside over there in incredibly cold conditions under the snow layer.

I grow in pots as my soil is to heavy for them but I leave them out all winter, just cover the pots to keep them drier over the winter and make sure the pots are big enough to reduce cold from the sides.

[camille1585]

You make me wish it was spring with these nice pics!
I'm not surprised that they do fine in Canada. With the big layer of insulation the snow provides they're probably less likely to freeze than yours are.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by camille1585

With the big layer of insulation the snow provides they're probably less likely to freeze than yours are.

Yes, and I've been told the snow also means it's drier than here. Because it's soooo cold the snow does not melt for months on end and the ground underneath is pretty dry. That's why I've been advised that in the UK it's better to cover them to stop them getting cold and wet (cold is fine, but not wet and cold).

I've heard that someone in Scotland growing them in pots had them go down to -14C a couple of years ago and thought it would have killed them all. However while they came up late they DID come back up the next year

[silken]

Very lovely. I too love the pink pouches!

[golforchid]

They don't call it the "Queen's Slipper" for nuthin'
I consider it the "queen" of the native North American orchids.