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Help with Ladys Slippers

15 years ago

I planted a lady's slipper in a garden under my crabapple tree. The other plants I have there are Grey's Sedge, Jack in the Pulpit and jacob's ladders,Indian tobacco, all thriving. The lady's slipper didn't come up at all. Is this the wrong site for the plant? My other garden areas are sunny and more dry. Suggestions for the best site for Lady's slipper? Thanks.

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Comments (5)

terrestrial_man
15 years ago
What kind of Lady Slipper is it?
anita55
Original Author
15 years ago
Yellow, is there more information needed?
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fatamorgana2121
15 years ago
I'll defer to those with more experience with these plants, but I've read that Cypripediums need not only need moist shade and acidic soil but also need specific mycorrhizae to survive.

I once read that there are many people who seemingly successfully added a lady slipper to their gardens. The plant would return each year until the fungi (that came along with the plant) was no more. The plant would then perish. They are not an easy plant for cultivation.

I've only found ladyslippers twice while hiking and that was at very moist and acid-rich bogs and forests.

FataMorgana
terrestrial_man
15 years ago
I am presuming that this is your Yellow Ladyslipper
Cypripedium parviflorum

If your conditions are right the plant can naturalize in your yard. There are several sites with cultural info.
A to the point site

Here is an old GW thread
to read

Another general but good cultural profile
read here

Do not be concerned about microrhizoid fungi as this only applied to the seedling when it has germinated. Older plants are not dependent upon the fungus.
You will probably need to amend the planting area where the orchid is to be placed. It is very important that the area will drain well and not get mucky at all. Avoid tap water in watering and use collected rain water or bottled distilled or r/o water. Get a watering can if you do not have one.
posieh
14 years ago
I have a native pink Mocassin (cypripedium reginae) in shade and it has always done well. Not overly moist but I was told it needs and it does get oak leaves as a light mulch to thrive. We have oaks close by so they do get the oak leaves but don't let them have a deep mulch and they are raked off in the Spring. These are little slow appearing in the Spring. We have lots of "wild" ones in our area and they thrive in shade wih some afternoon sun but are not in a moist area, in fact the area is a quite dry roadside. Hope this might help.

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cold stratification?

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