Cyp Kentucky Maxi in flower

[eggshells]

Beautiful.

[My Green Pets]

Rosie: I just bought one of these! Should receive it as a rhizome in the mail in a couple of days. Really want to grow it outside, seeing as this IS its native habitat...but...well...not sure how to prepare the soil in its bed. Everything I read says sand, organic material, leaf litter, keep it loose, well drained...

Any tips appreciated...and will keep you posted (pestered?)

[RosieC]

I get a mix for Cyps from my Cyp vendor. He's experimented with various things and this is what he's come up with.

I don't know exactly what it is, but it's a mix of about equal parts fine perlite and a similar grade of pummice. There is then a very small amount of fine bark in it.

I don't know what percentage bark, but I remember that it is low. See the picture below to get an idea how the mix looks.

He said when he first got a mix with this small amount of bark it didn't seem like enough organic matter, so he added more. A year later he realised it was a mistake as many had rotted and decided to go back to a mix with less bark. I bought one from him during the period he was adding bark, and it's the only one I've lost so far, it did survive a couple of years but I hadn't re-potted even though I felt uncomfortable with how wet it stayed compared to the others.

[Brooke]

If your area of KY has the typical clay soil I have, wet winters and planted in clay will rot the tubers. You are spot on with the mix you plan to use, just make sure if you do have clay, to plant it in a raised bed.

Congrats Rosie, it is gorgeous.

Brooke

[My Green Pets]

I received my plant in the mail, and it looks great with massive roots and 5 growths.

I have decided to go the potted route this first year just to try to get a better understanding of how this plant grows. Maybe in the future I will dig out a small raised bed and have them growing in the ground.

I filled the bottom 1/3 of the pot with small pea gravel, then a couple of inches of orchid bark, then the plant is mostly surrounded by small clay pellets with a little bark mixed in, and topped it all off with some composted leaves and bark. I realize as I type this that a large amount of bark is exactly what you have advised against as it stayed too wet. Will watch this carefully and water sparingly. The pot is in a protected area where it will not get much rain or sun. Now we wait and see.

[Leafmite]

Wow! Those are really gorgeous! I see why you enjoy them so much! I'm glad the cold didn't do them any harm.

[phragguy]

very nice

[euplusia]

Great plants, Rosie. I suspected that you grew them sheltered, because the end of March is very early for flowers. When grown in the garden, we see flowers here in the end of May.
In nature I have seen large numbers of Cyp. calceolus in the vegetation of a pre-alpine gravel bar and cobbles. I was told that many Cypripediums and hybrids can stand frosty Siberian winters. During that time they they sleep. But they do absolutely not like to be awakened by a mild early spring, to be afterwards tossed back by a late cold spell. This kills the starting new growths.
This is why I think you kept your Cyps. potted, Rosie, so you can bring it in.
The next danger to a starting new growth are slugs and snails, which to my amazement are not as numerous in England as they are in European mainland.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by euplusia

Great plants, Rosie. I suspected that you grew them sheltered, because the end of March is very early for flowers. When grown in the garden, we see flowers here in the end of May.

This was a post from May last year that has been bumped up, so they flowered in May here as well.

This year they are just starting to peek through the medium. This one is one of my earliest to show it's self this year, apart from formosanum which is always early (and already flowering) the others are still sleeping.

[Picotee]

Beautifully grown and photographed. No way can I grow them but certainly enjoy seeing yours!