This is one of the cutest plants on the planet IMO, but I've had problems with it too. I received a piece from a GW member a couple of years ago and at first it seemed to do really well potted. Then it went into stall mode. When I took it out of the pot, most of the roots were gone. Fortunately the plant still looked to be in good shape. For repotting, I finally settled on using one of my square basket thingies I make from the plastic waffle grating we use in our drip trays. I made a tiny one about 1 1/2 inches square, mounded some sphag in it and put the plant on top. Right now it's growing lots of new roots, so I hope this works long-term. Like I said, this plant is absolutely adorable in and out of bloom. Well worth the effort. Kevin

Yes you can grow C. pubescens in the garden, but no, I would not try it from seed. Mature, blooming size plants run about $40-$60, and are available mail order from a number of different sources (although many are likely sold out already for the year). Google around. Wild Orchid Co and Vermont Ladyslipper are two sources. If you live in the NE and have a large, respectable nursery nearby, there is a fair chance they will carry it in the wildflowers, natives, or very expensive (!) sections. C. pubescens is not the most difficult of cyps, but still requires some extra effort: well-drained soil (mostly sand and leaf mulch) with some direct sun in the morning or late afternoon, but not midday heat. Think high open shade under large trees. Plant shallow and mulch in the fall. Very light fertilizer if any, and neither let it dry out nor sit in soggy ground. Hope all this doesn't turn you off. They're wonderful plants.

plantfreak, It's interesting how gardeners always envy gardeners in other parts of the world. We grow quite a few tropical plants and orchids in our house. They are a struggle to keep healthy and we are thrilled when one of the orchids bloom. Then we'll travel somewhere in a more southern climate and see the same plants neglected but thriving in someone's yard or along the roadside. I remember when I was a young lad and saw my first palm tree. It was magical. We went up and touched the bark and had our photo taken. You ask when cyps flower in our region. Firstly 'our region' is quite large and the ecology varies quite a bit. In my garden the Yellow slippers bloom around the middle of June. The Sparrow Eggs maybe a week before. Both stay in bloom for a long time. I have some Yellow slippers on the north side of the house that aren't in bloom until the fourth week of June. In the wild it is much more variable. The Sparrow Eggs are in bloom anywhere starting from the first week of June in lower elevations to the first week of July at higher elevations. The same with the yellows but a week later. The wild C. montanums are often only out in mid July because they are found in areas of deeper snow cover and the growing season starts later. The C. montanums, however, can be out earlier at lower elevations (especially across the border in the province of British Columbia). The most prolific orchid in our region is the Calypso. They come out in the millions of clumps starting about June 10 or so. They can be found all along the coniferous forest that runs along the eastern base of the slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Especially from the latitude of Calgary northwards. Among the white spruces there's often Calypsos opening their blooms beside the remnants of snow patches...very similar to how crocuses will open with snow still on the ground in the garden.

Thanks everybody! I'm going to have to read all these posts carefully b/c I know that different conditions work in different climates. For example, 3 hours of afternoon sun probably wouldn't work for me since in Maryland the afternoon sun is pretty "toasty", but 3 hours of morning sun is much cooler. I'm glad to see from some of the posts that they don't have to be wet all the time. They sound a little like fuchsia (moist but not soggy roots). About planting media, how would leaf humus work, (vs. peat moss)? And while many C. Reginae grow in alkaline conditions how critical is this and how alkaline is necessary. I have a garden along an old brick shed foundation (the shed is long gone) that has leaf humus on top of clay soil. I planted my pubescens on one side of that and I was thinking the other side (with morning sun) might be good for reginae. While I had sucess with my pubescens last year I'm definately a cyp newbie. I'm willing to take another gamble, but since I would be buying them from reputable sources (I'm thinking Vermont Lady Slipper or Roberts) and do not have an unlimited supply of $$$ I'd rather not kill them straight off. :) -Helen