Cypripedium reginae (Showy Lady Slipper)

[nebula_34]

In my efforts to have an almost exclusively native plant selection in our back yard, I found a dealer who is responsibly growing Cypripedium reginae's (Showy Lady Slippers). Year 1 was nice, and it put out a nice flower, and year 2 was even better! Two spikes = 2 flowers. I'm hoping the eyes continue to divide nicely, and once the established spikes mature a bit more, maybe they'll be producing 2 flowers each. Here's a shot from last year.

[Germinatorman]

Very nice, are you doing any specific for the plant? Mulching, ground preparation, fertilizer, etc? Looks like maybe it is getting morning light?

[nebula_34]

Oh yeah - I don't fertalize at all other than to throw a bit of oak leaf compost on it (1 1/2 -2 inches spread over the plants crowns) when I mulch in the fall and a smaller amount in the spring. I've heard they don't like to be heavily fertalized. I just go with what nature would give it.

[nebula_34]

I made sure to ammend the soil with some sand (we have clay in our area), and I do mulch in the winter with about 2 inches of mulch. I've heard that pine needle mulch is best, but my cyp has been fine with traditional black mulch. The reginae likes a bit more sun than the typical cyp, so this one gets direct morning sun until about 11:00-11:30 and seems to be happy with that. This particular plant usually stays a bit moist, but not wet. William Mathis has a book about growing hardy perrenials which is my "go to" when I have questions about these flowers.

[Germinatorman]

Wonderful plant, congratulations.

[pavel]

Beautiful flower, Adam. There's a vender in Ohio who sells a lot of cyps. Don't recall how many are natives but he often sells at the orchid shows. I know he attends the one in Pittsburgh.

I would expect the dredgings from your fish pond would be an excellant gentle fertilizer.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Adam that is an excellent orchid! I love this ladyslipper. Is it growing near your pond? I hope it keeps dividing for you too! Awesome!

Cheers,
BD

[nebula_34]

I could just spray out the pond filters over the cyp Pavel... mind you my garden would smell like fish. BD, this is in a different area than my pond. I put 3 calapogon bulbs (grass pinks - though I live the white form too) out by the pond since they like wet feet, but the kids keep stepping on them when they're walking around the pond looking for frogs and such... So far all i've gotten is leaves and broken spikes! Here's hoping this year is better.

[Germinatorman]

Hey Adam, consider a small tomato cage placed around your calapogons. You might get to see flowers this year.....

[nebula_34]

Great idea - thank you. If I get some flowers, I'll be sure to put up a shot.