The Orchid Garden

Cypripedium buds

Question:

A question I have here is whether you could use grafting techniques or small cuts at the appropriate times of year to encourage a profusion of growth…. Any ideas??? Kye.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks for all the responses. If my observations are correct (and most replies seem to confirm this), it will be a good "heads up" in the fall as to how many plants to expect the following spring. The next big question is what would make buds fail to develop? Oh well, I guess for every answer there’s at least one or two more questions raised.                           Bob C. http://vchilder.home.netcom.com

Response:

I don’t know, I guess it’s possible but have never heard of it being done with Cyps. Maybe someone at one of the labs or a commercial grower might know.                    Bob C.

Response:

Thanks for all the responses. If my observations are correct (and most replies seem to confirm this), it will be a good "heads up" in the fall as to how many plants to expect the following spring. The next big question is what would make buds fail to develop? Oh well, I guess for every answer there’s at least one or two more questions raised.                           Bob C. http://vchilder.home.netcom.com

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For several years, I’ve noticed that new buds already have formed on most of my Cyps (seedlings and mature plants) before they go dormant for the winter. I’ve also observed that if they weren’t already there BEFORE the plants went dormant, what seem to be healthy plants/roots fail to develop new growth and die. My observation: New buds develop before Cyps go dormant for the winter. If they haven’t formed by the time a plant has died back for winter, the Cyp will eventually die during winter or in the spring. Therefore, any Cyp that doesn’t have a new bud already formed when the plants are put up for the winter may as well be discarded.  Any comments from those with more experience growing Cypripediums concerning my observation would be welcome. I’ve seen this for a number of years now and if my hypothesis is correct, would give me and anyone else a "heads up" in the fall as to how many plants to expect the following spring.                                 Bob C.

Snip I too have notiiced the new buds forming in the fall. I have not been observant enough to confirm the death of the cyp if a new bud is not initated in the fall, but this year I will keep my eyes open. I have several candidates that do not seem to have developed new eyes as of yet. All my cyps are outside either in pots or in the ground. — Gideon Singer In Beautiful COLD  0.1C Vancouver BC Web site: members.shaw.ca/gsinger

Response:

Dear Bob, and Wilford, Yes, I do find that the buds develop in the fall…my Cyp acuale grow in the ground in my gardens in Connecticut. As early as August I find the new growths, if I am digging the plants up to move them. Eagerly anticipating them breaking through the pine needles! Mayflowers…Arbutus are heavily in bud and ready to start blooming. And the roses are leafing out. Darn near 2 months early. Val, whose orchids are an outgrowth of 30+ years of interest in wildflowers.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For several years, I’ve noticed that new buds already have formed on most of my Cyps (seedlings and mature plants) before they go dormant for the winter. I’ve also observed that if they weren’t already there BEFORE the plants went dormant, what seem to be healthy plants/roots fail to develop new growth and die. My observation: New buds develop before Cyps go dormant for the winter. If they haven’t formed by the time a plant has died back for winter, the Cyp will eventually die during winter or in the spring. Therefore, any Cyp that doesn’t have a new bud already formed when the plants are put up for the winter may as well be discarded.  Any comments from those with more experience growing Cypripediums concerning my observation would be welcome. I’ve seen this for a number of years now and if my hypothesis is correct, would give me and anyone else a "heads up" in the fall as to how many plants to expect the following spring.                                 Bob C. All cyps start growing the new growth for the following year during the maturation of this years growth. Furthermore, the flower bud for next year is already formed when the plant goes dormant; therefore, the commonly used term vernalization is actually in error, as this botanically denotes initiation of a flower bud by cold-something which occurs in lilies. North American cyps require a period of cold dormancy to initiate growth of leaves, which is why one does not find cyps growing in the deep south. In my experience, the bud for Cyp reginae is usually black (the outer layer), and looks dead, but with new growth the green shows through and finally looks fine. The buds on all of the others are green, in the fall, and stay green throughout the dormant period.

Response:

For several years, I’ve noticed that new buds already have formed on most of my Cyps (seedlings and mature plants) before they go dormant for the winter. I’ve also observed that if they weren’t already there BEFORE the plants went dormant, what seem to be healthy plants/roots fail to develop new growth and die. My observation: New buds develop before Cyps go dormant for the winter. If they haven’t formed by the time a plant has died back for winter, the Cyp will eventually die during winter or in the spring. Therefore, any Cyp that doesn’t have a new bud already formed when the plants are put up for the winter may as well be discarded.  Any comments from those with more experience growing Cypripediums concerning my observation would be welcome. I’ve seen this for a number of years now and if my hypothesis is correct, would give me and anyone else a "heads up" in the fall as to how many plants to expect the following spring.                                 Bob C.   All cyps start growing the new growth for the following year during the maturation of this years growth. Furthermore, the flower bud for next year is already formed when the plant goes dormant; therefore, the commonly used term vernalization is actually in error, as this botanically denotes initiation of a flower bud by cold-something which occurs in lilies. North American cyps require a period of cold dormancy to initiate growth of leaves, which is why one does not find cyps growing in the deep south. In my experience, the bud for Cyp reginae is usually black (the outer layer), and looks dead, but with new growth the green shows through and finally looks fine. The buds on all of the others are green, in the fall, and stay green throughout the dormant period.

Response:

For several years, I’ve noticed that new buds already have formed on most of my Cyps (seedlings and mature plants) before they go dormant for the winter. I’ve also observed that if they weren’t already there BEFORE the plants went dormant, what seem to be healthy plants/roots fail to develop new growth and die. My observation: New buds develop before Cyps go dormant for the winter. If they haven’t formed by the time a plant has died back for winter, the Cyp will eventually die during winter or in the spring. Therefore, any Cyp that doesn’t have a new bud already formed when the plants are put up for the winter may as well be discarded.  Any comments from those with more experience growing Cypripediums concerning my observation would be welcome. I’ve seen this for a number of years now and if my hypothesis is correct, would give me and anyone else a "heads up" in the fall as to how many plants to expect the following spring.                                 Bob C. http://vchilder.home.netcom.com

Response:

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