Hi y'all -

I have wanted to grow Cyps since I first saw them, and now I live in Ft. Lauderdale. My question is this: Do you think it is possible??

I have been thinking about reversing their season, by storing them over the summer in the refrigerator, and allowing them to grow in the winter, when temperatures aren't as harsh. What do you think?

Hey Brian,

Yes, you can do this, but it isn't that easy. I grew C. parviflorum v. makasin and C. reginae "successfully" for three years in Gainesville, FL using the very same idea. I managed to keep them alive and even flowered the C. reginae once and C. parviflorum three times. They weren't really happy though. The trick is to keep them as cool as possible and to give them lots of humidity and bright light. If you have a greenhouse that will work nicely as long as temps don't go above 80 F by day. If you try them outside the dry winds of winter and early spring will be problematic.

I'd try an easy species first like C. parviflorum and then branch out from there. Of course you need a pretty big fridge to house them!