Lab Cultivation of Cypripedium calceolus

So hello to everyone. I originally registered on this forum so that I could learn a bit more so that I could manage not to kill my Lc Golddigger Fuchs Mandarin x Lc Jungle Elf. I'm not exactly sure what species that is. A yahoo search came up completely dry. Anyways it is my first orchid and I was over watering it. That's resolved and there is a decent bit of new growth forming. Anyways the reason that I posted is that I have some Cypripedium calceolus seeds on the way. The herb store said that you could get some success from planting them around an established orchid. Other than that they recommended lab cultivation. I did a search on that and found a nice book that would run me $30. Alas, I am balling on a budget here so it would be nice if some one could point me in the right direction for free. At any rate I keep seeing references to in vitro growth. So do I have another excuse to play with agar then? I am versed in lab technique and have grown a ton of hard to grow plants , so I feel that I'm up for it. I just need one of you fine people to show me the way.

I do SO enjoy your screen name! I haven't mixed up any homemade Agar so I am no help to you there. I did read some past threads here on Orchidtalk about this subject, so if you dig through old posts, you will be entertained AND enlightened.

There is also a wonderful article in the article library here. DIY - Guide to orchid propagation

Cheers,
BD

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We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors....but they all exist very nicely in the same box. ...Hmmm? .

Cyp. are among the more challenging from what I have read, as far as needing special conditions etc. There is a fair bit of reading on the web if you do a search for growing instructions. You need a special media, and the seeds must be refrigerated for a minimum of 4 months. Also, you will have to be able to provide winter conditions at some points. I would post links but they are from vendor's sites. If you have lab techniques it should be tenable with some persistence. Tenable means you may have some flowers in 5-10 years. I'm going to try some but I think I'll buy a few plants to get a head start.

I just have to say...

I LOVE AGAR!!!!

(I did my 1st thesis on stabilization of hosta variegation in vitro...so Agar and I, well, we go wayyyy back ;-)

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