Does anyone ever grow mature Cyps indoors under lights? If not, why not?

I have always wondered but I can't find anything that says yes or no.

I don't know of anyone who does but I'm sure it can be done. Cyps are seasonal, so it is best to grow them outdoors? I don't know. I have heard of people growing them down south and to hibernate them, they are refrigerated during winter. Lets hear it from the experts. Good question by the way!

not all you're asking, but some of it...

cyp pot culture (http://ladyslipper.com/cyppot.htm)

Welcome to the SOF Thomas!!!!:D

Hi Thomas,

Welcome to the Slipper Forum! :D

Sure. It's really a good way to grow some of the southern species in northern climates. Eg, californicum in MN, or formosanum anywhere with late frost. Also it might be a good way to grow northern species in hot climates, eg gutattum in a cool southern basement. However, all Cyps still require a 3-5 month cold period to grow properly next spring. So in addition to lights, you need a fridge for your plants.

Best,
Ross

To reinforce Ross's comments:

It can be done, but you have to consider a few things. Cyps come from temperate woodlands in general and therefore need coolish conditions with plenty of humidity. They also require a diurnal cycle of temperature change (at least 5C from high to low), not just light. A cold period of at least three months is needed and with some species five or more months is required. The question in the end is, do you want to go to all the trouble to create such a place for them? If you do, then go for it!

I know Ron Burch has grown various species in his basement at times (especially seedlings), but I'm sure he doesn't do it on a consistent basis. In the end, I think you'll find such an attempt too expensive for the rewards. Just my opinion.

Tom

Hi, Jive,

Some folks grow their Cyps under lights exclusively. I currently have about 60 pots in a basement that receives absolutely no external light, only 6500K compact fluorescents. They grow and bloom as consistently as the plants outside (incidently in the same setup I have a number of Paphs and Phrags and they also do very well although there are some Phrags that want more light than this).

Of the 60 pots most are seedlings as Tom mentioned but I also have about 20 prize adults (where "prize" translates as delicate) so I can look at them often. Also as Tom mentioned, the biggest issue with growing under lights is keeping them cold in the winter. I have two large refrigerators to keep the temperature just over freezing and will be adding a third (when my wife is looking the other way). For refrigeration you should use the simplest (and least expensive) non-freezer refrigerator you can find as even if you are just using the refrigerator part of a refrigerator-freezer, the temperature cycles to keep frost from forming in the freezer and it will kill your plants dead very quickly (as I know from sad experience).

I have my pots in ebb-and-flow hydroponics trays so they can be watered every day - the plants are in a mix of perlite and coarse sand. If there are organics, you will quickly get rot in any easy to maintain system. With the inorganics you will get very nice growth but you will need to water every day or just about every day and it is nice to have the hydroponics pump on a timer to do it for you.

Good luck!

Ron Burch