Hi Everyone

I have found a source for Cyp. Flavum seeds and am thinking to buy some. The only thing is I am not sure of the conditions they need - particularly minimum and maximum temperature (maximum being the issue for me). I have travelled in the parts of China they are from, both in summer and early spring. I am guessing they might be a little similar to Cyp. Reginae. Am I correct?

Brett

Most if not all Cyps do need similar conditions to grow and thrive.

Thanks for the reply

The critical thing for me with my attempt to grow Cyps is maximum temperatures. I read C. Reginae can take up to 90F. I was looking for similar information on Flavum.

I know the northern growers like Guttatum like it cooler, but I know little of the Asian species. I have been to the areas of China where Flavum grows, but I am not sure what altitudes it grows in those places. So, it could be similar to Reginae, but could like it cooler too. My googling has failed to find me this information:(

I hope someone can help out on this.

Brett

I dont know much about cyps but why not try growing it yourself and see if they like growing where you are. I remember seeing pink lady's slippers in the woods here in North carolina as a kid and the summers are very hot.

I dont know much about cyps but why not try growing it yourself and see if they like growing where you are. I remember seeing pink lady's slippers in the woods here in North carolina as a kid and the summers are very hot.

Thanks Skipper

I am thinking to just try it too. If it is too hot, I will take them indoors and see how they do under lights and winter in the fridge. It will take some time as I cant seem to find a supplier of flasks and have to go with getting seed and sowing myself. Fingers crossed that they thrive:D

Brett

I agree with skipper! Good luck and keep us updated!:fcrossed:

I agree with skipper! Good luck and keep us updated!:fcrossed:

Seems I wont be getting the seeds as the supplier cant fill the order now.. :confused:

If anyone has seeds to spare, let me know

Brett

Shame you can't get the seeds from that supplier.

Using what grows here and where might not be as helpful as one might think. While there are outlier populations in many areas, those locations usually have some micro-climate effect that is distinct from the rest of the area, except for the really wide-ranging plants like the parviflorums. For instance, C. acaule grows in a few areas in Alabama, but they are all at higher elevations in the N.E. corner of the state. Unless a plant with similar needs lives in your area, going by what natively grows there probably won't help.

What you could do to figure out the proper temps is locate a city near where you've been in the area, expecially one near where the species grows. Chances are good that a decently sized city might have at least a few years of temperature data on the internet. Wunderground.com has a surprising amount of cities with at least some weather data. See: http://www.wunderground.com/global/CI.html Armed with that information, you can see how your local climate differs from where the plants grow.

No Cyp enjoys hot temperatures especially if humidity is low and night time temps are warm as well. C. flavum is native to areas that are consistently cool in summer and downright cold in winter. Any extended period above 25 C will be the end of them. In winter, which should extend for not less than 3-4 months, the plants should be anywhere from 0 - 4 C for adequate vernalization.

The best choices for warm growing Cyps would include acaule, formosanum, japonicum, kentuckiense, parviflorum v. pubescens, and perhaps fasciolatum. Hands down kentuckiense is one of the more heat tolerant and fairly easy to grow. Of the others, formosanum is another tough plant.

Thanks Tom

Your information was very helpful . I will see what seeds I can get of those species. Melbourne is one of the coldest cities in Australia. Outlying areas get as low as -4c and winters are about 3 months. I could always winter potted pants in the fridge. It is coastal so humidity is not a big problem. The average temp is 25c in summer, but can get warmer for short spells. This is one reason I looked at Reginae as I read it can handle up to 32c on one website.

As for Flavum, I was unable to get temperature info. I was just going off the areas it grows in that I have been too. However the landscape there is varied, from mountainous to valleys that are famously stinky hot in summer and I never saw it in situ. So that was no help :D

What I may do is make a large cool wardian case or airconditioned greenhouse. I want to grow Masdevallia too and while people there do well with them, they have to watch the heatwaves when they happen. All I can do is try and see if I can succeed.

Brett