I work for a Forest Preserve District near Chicago. In one of our preserves we have a dwindling population of yellow ladyslippers.
Last week I located what is likely the last (well there are two stems about 3 ft apart) plant. It has not flowered in the last 5 or more years. It is in the shade of an oak and black cherry three. It is occuring at the top of a wooded ravine.
We conducted the site's first ever perscribed fire at the orchid location this spring.
We are thinking that it is not flowering or thriving due to too much shade.
We are under the impression that its ability to flower is related to the previous years site conditions.
My question is should I remove the trees ASAP to encourage flowering this year or just get the trees out by mid summer. Do you think shade is a problem for this plant?
My problem is that it is a dangerous site to chainsaw the trees (instant release). It would be much easier to girdle or basel bark the trees but they would defoliate much more slowly. Anything else I should do to encourage the plant? Thank you for your input!

:hi::welcomesof:

Welcome Nick. Instead of cutting down trees I think it would be easier to just relocate the plant to a different location.

Welcome Nick. Instead of cutting down trees I think it would be easier to just relocate the plant to a different location.

Good suggestion! Welcome to the slipper orchid forum Nick! Glad you could join us!

Welcome to the site! :welcome:
I also imagine it would be best to move the plants, but it would have to be done very carefully.

Howdy...welcome to the forum!

Wow, I didn't expect that reply.
Sounds kind of risky to me. How would I determine the ideal location for its its new home.
We have no shortage of oaks and cherry at the site. I don't see it as too much trouble to remove or defoliate the shaders. I am nervous about digging up the last known wild C. pubescens in the county.
Do you have any links to "how too" transplant sites
Could you elaborate on why you prefer the idea of relocating it.
Thank you for your welcomes and advice!

Nick

Ok, I just read the thread on Moving Cyp's which explains a little. Moving may revitalize them. Was he talking about moving a potted plant or one in a bed or one in a natural setting?

Nick he was talking about the ones planted in his garden and I think Ray also posted pictures of them in the photo gallery. If you do it right and get as much dirt around the roots without disturbing the roots the plants should be fine.

I light of the risks associated with moving an active plant, and the possibility that the plant is the last known plant in the county, I personally wouldn't move it if this were my responsibility. Moving the plant should be a last resort, although it would certainly be a lot easier than cutting trees.

If you decide and determine you need to do something, then removing a few branches or even a tree or two to get an extra bit of light to the plants would be my preferred solution if I had to make the call, but I would wait until fall, to avoid hitting the plant. If I was going to move it, I would also wait until fall, when the plant is dormant and the risks of moving it are much lower. Of course, waiting until fall creates some small risk the plant will not produce a growth for next year due to insufficient light, but the risk is certainly greater with moving an active plant.

I know of one local preserve here in NY that had a population of Cypripedium parviflorum that died out due to changes in light levels due to forest succession, so it certainly COULD be the cause of the plant's failure to thrive.

The other option would be to let nature run its course, and consider planting some lab-propagated plants on other parts of the property that are more suitable. And if the plant or another you might find DOES flower this year, consider pollinating it, and sending the seeds in for flasking, as a backup.

To tell you the truth, I'm not sure I would do anything this year, until I knew how the burning affected the plant. Cypripedium have been known to rebound strongly after fire events, and perhaps the controlled burn will help some.

It might be helpful in assessing the plant population's condition if you posted some measurements and photos, which include the habitat. It might give an idea of whether the plant can be expected to bloom this year or not, and what might be going on.

Some other questons that might help get you an answers... When the population last bloomed, how many blooms were there? Over how long a period was the decline, and how many blooming plants were there at the peak of recorded observation, if recorded? Have there been any other changes in the local plantlife, development pressure, poaching, etc...?

Hi Nick welcome to the site!!!