Help with Cypripedium growing...

[The Orchid Boy]

I would like to order some Cypripedium candidum seedlings from Spangle Creek Labs. I have read a lot about growing cypripediums and how to prepare soil for them. I live in zone five and I have clay soil here. Some sites say just mix lots of coarse sand and a little potting mix into the clay soil, other sites say to get more complicated. I do live on a property that has a fair sized wooded area on it and I could get the forest floor stuff with twigs, bark, and leaves and mix it with soil or something. I would like to grow them outside year round. So could someone give me some advice please?

[lambelkip]

that species has been known to grow in clay soils. I would experiment a little - try planting a couple directly in the ground, with a top dressing of leaves and a little lime. good luck

[naoki]

Have you seen this:

http://www.cypripedium.de/forum/Defl...0seedlings.pdf

They seem to recommend inorganic media for seedlings (perlite + pumice). I believe that Cyps from Spangle Creek Labs are still juvenile. For the adults of this species, one person recommended 1 gallon of rich garden soil (or MetroMix 560 SunCoir) + 4 cup of limestone (or oyster shell) grit.

I'm also getting some Cyps from Spangle Creek Labs, so I'm not an expert. My previous attemp failed, so I'm gathering info, too.

[terrestrial_man]

I got some seedlings of C. californicum from Spangle Creek a couple of years ago and put up some pages (6) on what I have done so far. Maybe the info will be of some use. Whatever. You need to grow them to a large enough size before planting and I would recommend making sure that the site provides plenty of drainage as they generally do not like their feet constantly wet.

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[ericst11]

Orchid Boy I live in Nebraska and growing cyps out here is ruff other then the native whites and yellows that grow wild because the winters are so crazy and springs are un predictable. I would recommend you start them in some bulb pans and grow them outside then bring them in to the garage till the start to sprout and the springs get stable . that is what is hard about this area if it starts to warm up and those cyps start to sprout out of the ground and are young and then it snows and or freezes they will get zapped. At least get them going then try to get them going like i told you and then barrie the container once they get going after a year or two. They will have a much better chance . This is Cypripedium kentuckiense. Grown the way i told you. My flickr link to the picture _DSC0211_edited-1 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!