Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Specific Families and Genera => Pleione and Orchidaceae => Topic started by: angie on January 12, 2014, 09:18:31 PM
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Do you think I am to late to repot some Cypripediums. I finally managed to get my hands on some good pumice at long last :) :)
Angie :)
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No problem whatsoever! And there is no great hurry. I'd happily repot for the next couple on months.
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I normally repot mine anytime up until the shoots start to appear above the top dressing, say until about early March.
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When I repotted I washed all the medium off the roots in a bucket, and used a hose to clean the plant, before replacing the compost with fresh.
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That's just one of the advantages of using pumice - tip the plant out, a quick shake, and it's ready for repotting. ;D
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Can I ask where you found it, and will you be adding other things
Glynn
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That was going to be my question too.
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That's just one of the advantages of using pumice - tip the plant out, a quick shake, and it's ready for repotting. ;D
I like the sound of that Peter. Thanks folks I will pot some in the pumice and see how it goes. I still can't get my head around how something can grow in material like this but after seeing Davids wonderful plants that he has growing in coarse perlite I want to give it a try. The chicken in me will leave some in the old material. I thought about mixing with cat litter but not sure.
I got the pumice from Viresco(UK) ltd,I spoke to a man called John a really lovely man, so helpful. I got 3-5mm, it's not cheap but the way I am feeling who cares.
Angie :)
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Just thought my last sentence maybe sounded a bit weird saying that the pumice isn't cheap but the way I am feeling who cares. Its just that last year was a terrible year and 2014 has started horrible again. My only niece has breast cancer, she is like a daughter to me and very special. We lost her mum my sister to cancer and I just think it is so unfair that she has cancer now. Sometimes I hate life.
Angie
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You'd wonder how life can throw so much misery at you sometimes wouldn't you? But there is always hope, Angela, look at how well our wee great niece Christina is doing.
My dear friend Linda has just been diagnosed with cancer as well - her daughter has already had cancer, her husband has two forms of cancer - you can't believe so much bad can happen to one family.
All we can do is give support when we can and keep strong for our loved ones.
Keep your chin up and enjoy your plants.
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Good to know that Viresco are stocking pumice again - that's where I obtained mine from a few years ago. I've been recycling the pumice after repotting to use again as it seemed to unobtainable for a while.
In answer to Glynn and Shelagh's question about additional materials, I'm now trying to follow David's approach and use pure inorganic medium, but I'm using pumice, not perlite and adding about 5% leaf mould when I repot. Old habits die hard!
Angie, it sounds like 2014 can only get better for you, here's hoping you get some good news soon.
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Peter it's really good quality pumice, he was really pleased with it. I was finding it impossible to find it then I got an email from a member of the SABG. I ordered quite a lot so I hope I have success with it. I can't wait till they all start growing again.
Peter you a right it can only get better and Maggi hope is what I have and I do believe she will beat this.
Will be busy potting up my plants tomorrow. No leaf mould though, mine isn't ready yet.
Angie :)
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Life seems to pick on some families - I hope all turns out well, Angie.
Is it OK to split cyps now as well? If not what's the best time?
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Can't help you there Anne, none of mine are big enough to need splitting yet.
I would guess that just before starting growth might be best, as both divisions would grow away over the new season, but it's only a guess. And if it goes wrong and the plant dies, you heard it somewhere else..... ;)
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Anne,
you can split cyps anytime over winter whilst they are dormant.
We've touched on this subject in previous threads if you do a search.
My view is that it is not easy, you must be determined and you must expect losses!
I haven't split a cyp for four years and have no plans to do it again.
Regards,
David
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Anne I tried to split one of my plants and I got so stressed out that I ended up just giving the whole plant away. I hated the thought that I might damage or kill the plant. Repotted three plants today but it was so grey and miserable here that I decided to do it another day. Pots are a lot lighter with just the pumice :)
Angie :)
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Just thought I, d tell you all Viresco have run out of pumice, except for the very small grade.Angie was right they are very helpful but have to buy it by the pallet and so I, ll have to wait until the next time they order. Ah well back to perlite.
Glynn
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Glynn,
Nothing wrong with perlite!
I'm happy with it and the plants grow pretty well.
I use it because it is cheap and easily available for about £17-£20 for 100 litres from
agricultural stores or 'hydroponic' stores.
I've never tried pumice.
I mulch every pot with clay balls to keep the perlite in the pot plus it looks nicer.
Regards,
David
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Glynn, David is right about perlite have a look at his plants in an older post, you couldn't grow any better.
Angie :)
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Perlite is even cheaper if you can cut out the middle man. For the past few years I've been buying 100 litre bags of super coarse perlite for about eight quid from Sinclair's at Gainsborough. But now they've upped and moved their operation to Ellesmere Port, which is good news for anyone in the North-west but bad news for me.
Good job I've got two more bags in the garage!
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Here's a useful link if you are thinking of dividing cypripediums. I divided several clumps before I moved to New Zealand. One clump of Cypripedium 'Emil' had 60 noses. http://www.cypripedium.de/forum/messages/2555.html (http://www.cypripedium.de/forum/messages/2555.html)
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I take it you feed your Cyps very regularly if they are only in pumice or perlite?
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Shelagh,
yes, especially when they are just starting in spring - there is a big discussion about it at the beginning of the 'cyps in pots 2013' thread,
David
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Thank you for that link, Anthony - it's just what I needed, and very clearly described. I recommend everyone takes a look!
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Thank you for that link, Anthony - it's just what I needed, and very clearly described. I recommend everyone takes a look!
Yes, it's a really good link. I remember getting this before from Anthony.
Angie :)
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Agreed, especially on the 'not easy' bit.
I have found it helpful to soak the rootball in cold water for 20 minutes. It makes the roots less brittle and they disentangle more easily.
Also, I look for a convenient place to split and cut through the rhizome with secateurs first. I found when using a knife, it tends to wander and cut a lot more than intended. Good luck. :)
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Thanks David, will check it out now.
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This link is an excellent resource and explains everything very clearly.
I just have one comment.
Plants that come out of pots look quite different to the one used in the link.
Everything is much more constricted as it has been confined in the pot.
It is difficult to separate anything out as it is just a tangle of rhizome and roots.
So you need to be really determined!
David
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It's amazing what half an hour in a bucket of water does. Mine mostly looked like the ones in the picture, but then it was over three years ago, and the larger ones were garden grown. I wonder how they are doing now? :-\
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It's amazing what half an hour in a bucket of water does. Mine mostly looked like the ones in the picture, but then it was over three years ago, and the larger ones were garden grown. I wonder how they are doing now? :-\
It's not three years that you have been away, is it Anthony ? The ones that I was lucky enough to get from you are doing great. Good grown plants :)
Hope its a lovely sunny day with you, its grey and miserable here, not cold though.
Angie :)
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Hello all just thought I should add my observations as well, I grow many Cyps in the garden ordinary soil with extra grit and some leaf mould the potted plants get J.I. sterilised soil based compost with added Perlite, sharp sand and some grit, we keep those fairly dry in winter start feeding when we see growing noses, I divide plants just as they are starting to die down leaves go yellow lift plants shake of compost get my Stanley knife blade with care cut between the noses, the either re-pot or plant back in the garden, I am posting some pictures showing this method, cheers Ian the Christie kind
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Last two, Ian
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A steady hand and a no nonsense approach Ian.
I think I'd need a wee Dram first! :o
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Not bad Ian, when you see a professional doing it it looks easy.
Steve not to many drams when you are in charge of a blade ::) ;D
Angie :)
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Of course you're right Angie!
Don't drink and divide! ;)
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Of course you're right Angie!
Don't drink and divide! ;)
;D ;D ;D
Angie :)
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Hi all yes I did have a dram or two last night sitting by the fire 24 hours of pouring rain and more today did someone suggest Spring, cheers Ian the Christie kind
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I have plenty of pumice in stock and have now found a courier that is a reasonable price. I will also be taking some to Kendal in March. Having watched the Frosch video some years ago I have always always used my hands to divide plants rather than a knife.
Jeff
Laneside Hardy Orchids
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Hi Jeff, I hope you'll be bringing some to Loughborough as well ;)