Anyone on the site growing any of the asian cypripediums? If so, care to share some basic dos and don'ts for culture? I am thinking about giving Cyp. japonicum a try and would like some advice.
Thanks!
Adam
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I've never met an orchid I couldn't kill...
I don't have any Cyps, but I've been reading a book by John Tullock called "Growing Hardy Orchids" and he describes a few different media for North American Cypripediums. I imagine that they would be similar.
The two main points where Tullock says people go wrong is too high of a pH and inadequate drainage. I know that some cyp retailers have pre-made mixes available designed specifically for this genus.
I grow no asian Cyp, just american ones and they do not tolerate high PH at all. Also they need a winter dormancy in order to prosper. Some of mine are in pots and others grow in the ground all year. Little watering in the winter months and a good bit during the spring when the leaves are developing. Moderate after maturity. IOSPE PHOTOS
For native american lady slippers I have Cypripedium reginae & Cyp. acaule. I've never read up on them for culture but seem to do well with them. I grow them in a loam of leaves/pine needles, sand and charcoal. they are one of the few orchids I have that I go out of my way to give them rain water (collected in a bucket with driftwood and leaves in it to drop PH)