Cypripedium Hybrid

[Longroots]

I found some Cyprupedium hybrids for £16.99 each so I bought 2. As is hardy orchid fashion from general nurseries, the potting medium seems pretty bad. It's all organic - shredded wood it seems. It feels quite heavy for a 1 litre pot, and the soil over the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot seems wet.

Should I try battle through this year keeping them alive in this medium, repotting in winter, or should I repot them now into a mix of limestone, perlite and leaf mold? Also, if it is in a dreaded sponge plug, should I try remove the plug?

[Roberta]

I'm the last person to advise on Cyps (Can't grow them where I live, much too warm in winter) but thinking about where they grow in nature, I don't think you need to worry about the medium, and since they're sprouting (Spring!) this is the time to NOT disturb them. In nature, they grow in forest enviromnents that tend to be wet (especially this time of year), in leaf litter and broken-down bits of wood. So damp is fine. Don't try to grow this like an epiphyte! Completely different creature. It's definitely terrestrial, and the forest floor is pretty damp. Think "wildflower" or maybe "tulip"

[Ray]

I grew mine in semi-hydro culture, so they were constantly moist and airy. In autumn, they were unpotted and placed in my refrigerator “crisper” drawer until early spring.

[Longroots]

I was wondering how semi-hydro might work! I live in the UK so inducing dormancy isn't difficult here obviously. Do you think I should repot now?