Hello all,

Just wondering if anyone has grown Cyps using the Holman bog method? Im reading this from John Tullock's, Growing Hardy Orchids.

Its a simple constuction using a rectangular frame made from 4 by 8 foot treated pine, 10inches high, lined with plasic and holes drilled into the plastic liner and timber, leaving a 2inch reservoir at the bottom and a 6 inch growing medium that is free drainage. Using a mix of 2 parts pine fines,1 part sphag mosss(i prefer coco fibre) and 1 part perlite. The bottom layer consits of cypres mulch as the reservoir absorbing the moisture.
He suggests growing C reginae, C parviflorum,C pubescens,C californicum?

Would be usefull for a drier climate?

Any comments?

Cheers
Stephen
Australia z 8

I have a bog bed under construction. I have Tullock's book too. Are you growing in one of these bog beds? I like your idea of using coconut chips.

I think the constant supply of moisture from the bog will help you in drier climates, but zone 8 is a little warm for growing some Cyps outdoors. Do you get cold winters? What's your average high temp in summer?

Hi, Stephen,

I have seen these bogs in southern areas here in the US - they really help keep plants going. Here in New England the plants would likely appreciate the help during July and August but when I tried a similar setup, I had a lot of trouble with rotted rhizomes over the winter. Since the ground freezes here fairly deep, when there is a thaw in mid-winter, water can pool and then freeze to several inches in depth.

Ron

Hi Ron,

Thanks for reply and interesting observation,

I dont really have a problem with the ground/garden freezing solid here, only the surface would and only for a couple of weeks in the deep shade same with the pots.

So if I had a bog and it only freezes solid on the surface and thawed out in winter but didnt flood it shouldnt be a problem? Cyps can tollerate this,thaw and freeze? A cover would prevent this also?

Winter tends to be dry here and any moisture that did come down it would likely come down as snow, its not much and would'nt stay longer than a day.

Also do you really think that this sort of cultivation would be better than planting them out in a woodland? especially with C reginae and C pubescens
1500mm average rainfall in spring, early summer, some in autumn..not enough?

Hi Royal Orchids

no not growing Cyps in this method yet but I am with bog Primulas and noticed a massive differance in lush growth, i was imagining Cyps as lush as these :D

Im in a mountains and its cold enough here..just! I've had my Cyps for 5 years from seedlings and are doing well. Im at the stage where I want to plant them out in either a woodland or bog under the canopy of trees.

Average top summer temps would be 24c in the shade and lows of 10c at night. Can be lower.
Top winter temps would be 5c in the shade and -5c at night.

Let me know how you go with your bog bed?

Cheers
Stephen