Cypripedium reginae

[Cvz]

How does one treat a cypripedium reginae after flowering? The plant in question is in a pot in what looks like peat (probably a problem) and has finished flowering, but the plant itself has not started to die down or wilt. So:

1. When does dormancy start? When the flowering is finished or when the plant dies down? In the last case, do I keep treating the plant as if in normal growth (i.e. regular watering and weak fertilising every 3 or 4 waterings) until the plant dies down?
2. How is this plant treated during dormancy? On culturesheet.org it says the rhizome must be cleaned and wrapped in a ball of sphagnum moss, misted with pure water and then put in a plastic bag in the fridge and checked weekly for the appearance of new growth. Is this the way?

3. What would be the correct potting soil for this plant once it enters its new growing period? Peat is apparently too water-retentive. Quartzitic gravel (50%) and perhaps very fine bark (30/35%) and a bit of peat (to make the medium acidic)?

Thanks a lot!

[goofy]

hey,
let the plant grow, as long as it likes to grow.
and wait "patiently" until it dies down.

in Europe, the plants grow from about March/April til September/October.
then they go dormant over the "northern" winter,
when it is cold and frosty here.

all those Cyps need essentially a cold period.

I dont know, which lows you have in SA.
Insofar the "refrigerator" might be the "way it works".

Many people here use a mixture of Seramis (Turface) / Perlite /fine composted fir bark as growing material,
AND reginae is NOT an acid loving Cyp !
I would not recommend to mix Peat in the "soil".

But some people also grow Cyps in "Neudohum"
(which I use for growing up tiny seedlings sucessfully)

And I heared that some persons grow in pure coarse river sand.
(I also tried successfully)

I think, the potting mix is not "critical"

BUT never forget to mix in the water some fertilizer.
I fertilize with every watering, half strength liquid fertilizer.................

Good luck

[Cvz]

Thanks for the reply - the plant's foliage is rapidly wilting and going off this week so it will go (forcibly ) into dormancy this weekend!

I think I will have to do the fridge thing - our spring is already starting so trying to keep it cool enough for dormancy will be difficult outside or any other place for that matter.

Thanks for the verdict on the acid-loving /hating. There is so much contradictory information out there on the web, you simply cannot get a straight fact.

WIll keep you updated!