Cypripedium 2014

[Hakone]

[monocotman]

Hi,
nice plectrchilum Alex.
This is the start of the usual hybrids and brings Inge and Michael alba.
Inge took a real set back 4 years ago when I repotted it and it is only just now really starting to motor.
 Probably about mid 20's growths and about half the flowers now out. Nice red margin to the lip.
Michael alba is not really alba - more 'light green'. The flowers don't fade to white over time.
Michael is a grex that takes it's time to show it's true potential.
Early flowerings on young plants have weak stems and small flowers.
As the plant get bigger the stems strengthen and develop multiple flowers.
The final photo shows the plants growing on the north side of the greenhouse.
I'm feeding every week at a higher rate than normal and watering probably twice a week.
The flowers needed a bit of fleece protection from the odd frost this week.
I've spaced the pots out a bit more this year and there are more younger plants growing under the staging.
One or two suffered last year due to being overshadowed by other plants.

Regards,

David

[Maggi Young]

The final photo shows the plants growing on the north side of the greenhouse.

My goodness -  you are clearly growing these plants like weeds - they look fantastic.

For clarification - this staging is outside, against the  north side greenhouse ?

[monocotman]

Maggi,

you're correct. The pots sit in the garage over winter and come in early March.
The staging stays in  the greenhouse over winter and comes out with the cyps.
I don't find them too hard to grow - they're easier than Frits and Onco irises.
I've failed with both of those.
The biggest plants, all hybrids, are now in 10-12 inch pots and some have over 40 growths.
The photo is Gabriela and has somewhere around mid thirties growths and flower buds.

Regards,

David

[Maggi Young]

I would reply - but I've fainted ! 

[ashley]

What an amazing sight David
I look forward to following your progress through the season.
Do you grow any in the garden?

[monocotman]

Ashley,
sorry - no.
All plants are in pots.
Living in East Anglia I think that they'd suffer in the summer and I'd forget to water them,
Regards,
David

[Maren]

Golly, Alex, your C. plectrochilum is early. Mine is still thinking about it.

David, what do you grow them in? they look superb.

[monocotman]

Maren,
they're all in about 90% super coarse perlite plus a bit of orchid bark.
Thanks,
David

[Hakone]

[angie]

Looking good David, can't wait to see some of mine flower. Hopefully better than last year.

Angie 

[monocotman]

Angie,
I'm looking forward to seeing yours.
Most of mine have increased from last year - just a couple have gone backwards.
A couple of macranthos clones have just put up a single small weak growth.
It isn't clear why.
David

[SteveC2]

Interesting to hear about your macranthos clones.  I have the same problem.  One of my first cyps was a macranthos which is doing well, but I have never quite managed to find one to match it.
Also quite a few blind plants this year, despite (or because of?) having increased in size since last year.  I am wondering if the lack of winter is to blame.  Many of mine were very late to go dormant and very early to come up.

[monocotman]

Steve,
Very interesting - I have the same problem with regards to blind macranthos growths.
I've had this issue for several years during both very cold ( 2010/11) and warm winters like this one.
This year I have a normal macranthos with 7 large growths and no flowers.
So I don't have an answer. It doesn't correlate with winter temperatures unless they need a narrow window
of winter temperatures.
There are no blindness problems with any other species or hybrid, even with
the closely related species tibeticum, franchetti and froschii,
Regards,
David

[SteveC2]

At last! 
After more years than I can remember, and so very many leaves, I have finally flowered my Cypripedium japonicum.  Still only one flower on a nine shoot plant but hey, who's counting?
I think that this one is down to the lack of winter cold here.