Does anyone have any advice on Cyp. tibeticum? I really liked it, and wanted to get it for my cyp. garden. Does this one like very acidic soil? Is it one of the very hard ones to grow? Any tips would be appreciated! :D


EDIT: Will it even grow here? Is it hardy to zone 6A?

Also, Does anyone know a source for this one??

Does anyone have any advice on Cyp. tibeticum? I really liked it, and wanted to get it for my cyp. garden. Does this one like very acidic soil? Is it one of the very hard ones to grow? Any tips would be appreciated! :D


EDIT: Will it even grow here? Is it hardy to zone 6A?

Hi, tibeticum is easily hardy in your area. There are people who grow them down to temperates well below zero. They are one of the more difficult species to grow - they absolutely must have very easily-draining media and soil often will kill them (probably mostly due to the wetness around the crown). The vast majority of people who grow this species successfully do not have any soil. They use beds prepared with inorganic materials such as Pro's Choice Soilmaster, Espoma's expanded clay product, along with lots of sand. And the beds must drain VERY well. Also, in winter the Asian species need to be kept fairly dry, unlike most American species. This can often be done using a tarp to protect the bed.

As for obtaining tibeticum, Paul Christian Rare Plants in England is the only place I know that has older plants them right now. They will not be shipping until September. There are sources of tibeticum seedlings but these are much more difficult, even for experienced growers!

Ron Burch

Hi Nick,
You might try a macranthos before you do tibeticum. Cyp macranthos forms healthy clumps which are better suited to taking minor abuses, whereas Cyp tibeticum forms single stems or maybe double making it frail.

Which Cyps do you grow currently?

So, Tibeticum doesn't multiply??
I grow reginae, acaule, parviflorum, pubescens, kentuckiense (I hope I spelled it right), and californianum.
I wanted to get tibeticum because it has the nice, rich, wine color. It would be my first asian cyp. Are there any others that look like tibeticum?

So, Tibeticum doesn't multiply??
I grow reginae, acaule, parviflorum, pubescens, kentuckiense (I hope I spelled it right), and californianum.
I wanted to get tibeticum because it has the nice, rich, wine color. It would be my first asian cyp. Are there any others that look like tibeticum?

Hi, yes tibeticum grows in little colonies but the actual plants to do not make a lot of stems like most Cyps. As Ross noted, macranthos does make clumps and is easier to care for (and a LOT easier to come by - since it is not so fussy).

Ventricosum (a hybrid of calceolus and macranthos) also tends to be very easy but you would have to see the one you want in bloom to assure the color is as you want it as no two are alike!

Ron

Hi!
I contacted Paul Christian, and he said that the color form that I want is more of a smithii type. (I believe they are both the same??) Do any of you guys' suggestions have this coloration. here is a image.

http://img485.imageshack.us/img485/8536/87115565jo2.jpg

Regarding C. macranthos, what would you recommend for light levels?

How many hours of direct sun per day, or thinking another way, as compared to light for C. pubescens (I'd consider low-medium), C. reginae (medium-high) and C. candidum (high)?

thanks all!

Hi!
I contacted Paul Christian, and he said that the color form that I want is more of a smithii type. (I believe they are both the same??) Do any of you guys' suggestions have this coloration. here is a image.

Nick I suggest you take a look at Werner Frosch's Cypripedium site (http://www.w-frosch.onlinehome.de/menu_e.htm). It contains all the known species of Cypripedium with plenty of pictures as well as all the registered hybrids. C. tibeticum is a member of the subsection Macrantha which includes C. macranthos, C. calcicolum (AKA C. smithii), C. franchetti, C. froschii, C. himalaicum, C. ludlowii, and C. yunnanense. The larger, darker forms of C. macranthos resemble C. tibeticum, as does C. calcicolum, C. franchettii, and C. froschii. As Ron said, C. macranthos is the easiest to source and grow.

Concerning the needs of these various species, remember that all of them with the exception of C. macranthos are alpine plants. That means cold, uninterrupted winter rest, and cool conditions in summer. Alpines in general are difficult to maintain in lowland areas under normal garden conditions. C. macranthos by contrast is not confined to high mountains, and its tolerance for a wider range of conditions reflects this. It can withstand garden conditions (provided soil ammendments are correct) in USDA cold hardiness zones 2-6. In terms of light, think bright shade with a touch of morning sun if possible.

Hi!
I contacted Paul Christian, and he said that the color form that I want is more of a smithii type. (I believe they are both the same??) Do any of you guys' suggestions have this coloration. here is a image.

http://img485.imageshack.us/img485/8536/87115565jo2.jpg

Hi, Nick,

Tibeticum does have a large color range. Smithii (calcicolum) is an extremely dark-colored flower - I have a couple of them which I got from Paul Christian about 3 years ago. There is a post in Cypripedium Gallery of a flower from two years ago. The lighter colored flower in your photo is also nice. I too would like to have a tibeticum of that color. I have several that are purple in color - there is a post in the Cypripedium Gallery from last year.

Cyp macranthos is available with colors like the lighter ones in your photo and they are much easier to grow than tibeticum. Paul Christian currently has some Cyp macranthos of nice red color.

Ron

I like your smithii! Is smithii a clumping one? Or is it like tibeticum, and makes some stalks?

Cyp smithii is a really nice plant with great plum red color, but again it doesn't really clump. Cyp yunnanense & Cyp franchettii might clump more than smithii or tibeticum, but I don't have experience with them.

Best,
Ross

Nick, don't forget to watch "First Flower" premiering on Nova on PBS on April 17 at 8pm. I saw a clip of the show this morning and they showed a beautiful wild Cyp tibeticum growing in a remote mountain in China.

I'll make myself a reminder! I think that I saw the commecial, but didn't know what it was for.

Cyp smithii is a really nice plant with great plum red color, but again it doesn't really clump. Cyp yunnanense & Cyp franchettii might clump more than smithii or tibeticum, but I don't have experience with them.

Best,
Ross

As Ross notes, smithii is not much of a clumper either. Of the red-purple Cypripediums, macranthos clumps the best. Franchetti can also clump but it is a more difficult plant than macranthos. Yunnanense is one that I have not had much success with, yet.

Ron

Hi All,
Any suggestion on fertilizer for Cyp tibetiticm ? I have one in the cool greenhouse that is doing well at the moment.
Be good to hear from others on this !
Later, Carl

Hi, Carl,

I use either Dyna-Gro hydroponics fertilizer or Miracle Gro Bloom Buster with nearly every watering, at 1/4 teaspoon per gallon. These two fertilizers are essentially identical, each containing an array of trace elements.

Ron

Hi All,
Any suggestion on fertilizer for Cyp tibetiticm ? I have one in the cool greenhouse that is doing well at the moment.
Be good to hear from others on this !
Later, Carl

We have a winner!!!!

Cyp. macranthos is going to be put in ! First, it is 20 euro's cheaper (40 bucks) and it also is a clumper. Are there any other sources than paul christian for this one?

We have a winner!!!!

Cyp. macranthos is going to be put in ! First, it is 20 euro's cheaper (40 bucks) and it also is a clumper. Are there any other sources than paul christian for this one?

Bill Steele (Spangle Creek Labs) has nice seedlings - about 3-5 years to bloom - of a very red one from Lake Baikal area. I am working on growing on a large number of blooming specimens of various colors but it will be a while. Fraser's Thimble Creek nursery in Canada lists several different adult macranthos. I would also watch Vermont Ladyslipper - surely they must be growing a large number.

Ron