WARNING:
Keep dormant
Cypripediums refrigerated until planted. Do not refrigerate
longer than two weeks unless the temperature is at least 35
degrees F. Do not put Cypripediums in the freezer. If the ground is frozen in January etc.,
they may be kept planted in a pot above ground either in a cold
frame or against a North-facing wall covered with at least a 4in
thick covering of mulch for protection.
Cypripedium Culture in Pots
 I have been
growing Cypripediums for about 10 years. I have found an easy
way to grow them with very good success. I call it
“Cypripedium
culture in pots”.
This way of
growing Cypripediums will greatly eliminate excess moisture and
pathogens in the soil that could harm or rot the roots of the
plant. The plant should grow for years in your original pot.
We now offer this one gallon
substrate mix on the bottom of our
, all you will need is the pot, water and mulch.
Materials:
One-gallon plastic
pot or liner preferably black
2 parts -Granite
grit [Chicken “grower” size from the feed store]
6 parts -Perlite
2 parts -Potting
soil or pro mix
A scoop or a
handful of ground oyster shell, from the feed store
·
Mix all the substrates together thoroughly and add water only to
make it damp.
·
Plant the Cypripedium into the pot by holding the plant upright
in the pot with the eye of the plant about 1 inch to ˝ inch
below the top rim of the pot and letting the gravely mix fall
around the roots until you fill it to the top. Now tap the
bottom of the pot and the substrate should drop down another ˝
inch or so. You can top off the rest with the extra substrate
mix.
·
Now “plant
the pot” so
it is sunk into the ground, level with the earth.
·
Water the plant.
·
Now top off the pot in the ground, with 1 inch of ground up oak
leaf mulch. Oak leaf mulch is but but must any fine mulch will
do. If the plant is in a windy area you must make sure
the leaf mulch won’t blow away. You can do this by putting on
some courser wood chips and or pine needles on top of it. Don’t
let the mulches disappear because even though it is a perfect
medium to grow the Cypripediums in, the gravely mix will not
insulate very well and the eyes could possibly freeze in the
winter, or easily dry out in the summer.
·
You can safely fertilize your Cypripediums with Peter’s 20-20-20 mixed as directed
1/4th strength only
during the growing season.
·
Redo this process about once every 3 or 4 years maybe into a
larger pot and don’t reuse the old substrate. Start fresh once
again.
The Cypripedium collection Raising Rarities offers are all North
American species and hybrids.
Cypripediums for sale here. We now accept major
credit cards and electronic checking through PayPal.com.
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