I wondered which of these very difficult cyps is the most difficult to grow.

I have never grown any Cyps so I didn't pick any but very interesting question/poll!

Which is the easiest one to grow? I may try growing one in the future.

I would say that Cyp. calceolus is the easiest!

Hi there!

Very few people on earth have even seen Dickensonianum and Irapeanum let alone attempted to grow them. Rumor has it, these plants are near impossible to grow in cultivation. You simply cannot compare them to Acaule or even Yuannense which can be purchased. No one really has any experience. There aren't even many photos of these plants.

P.

I heard of some of them on frosch's website

Probably subtropicum... mostly because it doesn't exist in cultivation! ;)

I agree with Paul that the molle, dickensonianum, and irapeanum have been reported as currently "impossible" outside of their Mexican homes. Someone will find a cultivable strain at some point, though.

Currently, Cyp irapeanum and its sibling species are the most difficult. No one has kept them long without their native soil. We need to grow some seedlings from green pods to get them going.

Cyp reginae and Cyp parviflorum pubescens are the easiest to grow. The true Cyp calceolus is considerably more challenging than pubescens.

Ron

I would say that Cyp. calceolus is the easiest!

Excellent! :cool: The Yellow Ladyslippers are my favorite Cyps because they always remind me of Paphs.

Currently, Cyp irapeanum and its sibling species are the most difficult. No one has kept them long without their native soil. We need to grow some seedlings from green pods to get them going.

Cyp reginae and Cyp parviflorum pubescens are the easiest to grow. The true Cyp calceolus is considerably more challenging than pubescens.

Ron
Thank you
I was thinking about ordering reginae from Plant Delights.I had 1 from Tony but gave it to a friend.How hard are japonicum??? The leaves are sooooo beautiful i'm tempted.Thanks

Currently, Cyp irapeanum and its sibling species are the most difficult. No one has kept them long without their native soil. We need to grow some seedlings from green pods to get them going.

Ron, as you know, several propagators (starting with Carson Whitlow some 20 years ago) have successfully grown C. irapeanum from seed. The problem seems to start once plants are deflasked and put into just about any substrate. I wonder what is missing.

Recently seedlings of C. irapeanum have been offered for sale in Europe, so maybe someone will find the right culture for these. Already there are reports "from under the radar" that plants have been successfully grown and flowered in Germany...but you never see pics or information about these plants. In the end, I agree, someone will fine how to grow them.

Thank you
I was thinking about ordering reginae from Plant Delights.I had 1 from Tony but gave it to a friend.How hard are japonicum??? The leaves are sooooo beautiful i'm tempted.Thanks

George, C. japonicum is a challenge in cultivation. If you get a plant with a long section of rhizome, it can be tried in a loose, acidic, and moist bed outside. Do not attempt to grow it in a pot. The big problem with this one is that plants are often sold with very short rhizomes. These divisions almost never survive for long.

A much better choice would be its near cousin, C. formosanum. The leaves are essentially identical in form, but the flower is quite different in color: pink with red spots throughout. The good news is that it not only is easy in cultivation, but actually loves to grow in pots! The only thing to watch is that it likes to sprout early, sometimes as early as mid winter. A very lovely, easy to grow species.

Japonicum leaves look so much like joey palms!!

Ron, as you know, several propagators (starting with Carson Whitlow some 20 years ago) have successfully grown C. irapeanum from seed. The problem seems to start once plants are deflasked and put into just about any substrate. I wonder what is missing.

Recently seedlings of C. irapeanum have been offered for sale in Europe, so maybe someone will find the right culture for these. Already there are reports "from under the radar" that plants have been successfully grown and flowered in Germany...but you never see pics or information about these plants. In the end, I agree, someone will fine how to grow them.

I keep hearing about the flowering irapeanums but when I have asked for photos from those who have seen them, they are not forthcoming. I certainly want to see one!

Ron

Ron it is a bit tricky to get true comments of cyps that has a dodgy reputation like the mexican ones.
Plants are for sure not legally imported to Europe and most likely not legally exported so who would admit to having/doing this?
That is the flowering sized I am talking about. The seedlings might be OK.
Even to ask for a source of divisions of spotted cyps do not render any source but nowone with the the brilliant exception of Tom dared to say that many (most) are wild collected specimens.
How can one say that if they have one at home?
Much of Cyp is a bit huch huch with contact me privately and so on so that we might do a deal. You seem to be an exception with rather saying no to a plant if the papers are not OK. That is brilliant but I think so many others would bend ower backwards to try to get the plant they want with or without papers.
Maybe a bit off sorry, but do not expect pictures untill seedlings offered are possible to bloom then people might show what they have and say it is from seedlings.
Kind regards
Joakim