Lady slipper orchids for you !

Design and InstallationGarden Caregarden TriviaIndoor plantsPlant Health CareUncategorized
Written By Peter Morris

pretty lady slipper arrangement

Description

Cypripedioideae is a FAMILY of orchids commonly known as lady's slipper orchids. The family includes the genera Cypripedium, Mexipedium, Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium and Selenipedium. All of them fascinating ! 

Environment

The species in the genus Mexipedium, Phragmipedium, and Selenipedium are found in northern South America and Central America, northern North America, and Europe.

Cyprepedium are from northern Asia and Paphiopedilum from subtropical and tropical Southeast Asia. 

Flowers

The flowers range in color, shape, and size, but all have the characteristic slipper-shaped lip. Most of species form these trap flowers in which insect access to the saclike lip quite easily.

When the insects climb out of the flower the brush against the stigma and the stamens and thereby pollinate the flower. The flowers of lady slippers are waxy and long-lasting. 

Plant Problems

Lady slipper orchids can be affected by many pests, including aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, scale insects, and fungus gnats. However, most florist orchids are pretty clean and get none of these. 

Paphiopedilum cultivar

Care

Indoors we use mainly paphiopedilum genus as these are tolerant of low light and shade. They prefer temperatures of 60 to 80 degrees F and relatively high humidity of more than 60%. 

The potting medium must be a special mix for terrestrial orchids. It should be kept moist and not allowed to dry out. They are tolerant of transplanting and repotting but do not like fine or decomposed potting medium. Repot at least once a year with fresh potting mix. 

Cypripedium parviflorum

Ethnobotany

Native Americans used relied on lady’s slippers to bring down fevers, cure headaches and ease menstrual cramps and labor pains.

The yellow lady’s slipper, Cypripedium parviflorum, was preferred by the Cherokee in Georgia and the Ojibwe in Canada. 

pink lady slipper used by Native Americans

The Menominee of Wisconsin and the Penobscot of the Northeast used the pink lady’s slipper because of its ability to soothe.

Preparations were made by collecting the roots in the fall or early spring, drying them out and grinding them into a powder. 

Drinking tinctures of lady’s slipper roots was a popular remedy for insomnia, anxiety, or general emotional tension.  The entire Family is nonpoisonous. 

Species

Cypripedium 

Found across much of North America, as well as in parts of Europe. The state flower of Minnesota is the showy lady's slipper (Cypripedium reginae). The pink lady's slipper (Cypripedium acaule) is the official flower of the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. 

Cypripedium reginae

Mexipedium 

A monotypic genus, consisting of a single species that was found in a single locality in Oaxaca, Mexico. 

Paphiopedilum 

Found in the tropical forests of southeast Asia reaching as far north as southern China. It is quite easy to cultivate and therefore is popular among orchid enthusiasts. 

Paphiopedilum

Phragmipedium 

Comes from northern South and Central America. It is also easy to cultivate as it requires lower temperatures than Paphiopedilum, eliminating the need for a greenhouse in many areas. 

Phragmipedium

Selenipedium 

Found only in Central and South America. 

Cultivars

There are 109 recognized species and THOUSANDS of hybrids.

Warm-growing lady slippers usually have mottled foliage. Those without mottled foliage prefer cool, moist atmospheres that mimic their mountain habitats.

Plant Specialists uses them indoors a lot because of their exotic looking flowers – and because they can last for a month or more! 

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GREENING NEW YORK FOR OVER 53 YEARS !

   

Article written by our Staff Horticulturist, Peter B Morris, BSc, MSc, MBA

All photographs used with permission @SHUTTERSTOCK

Peter Morris

Peter was born and raised on a beautiful green island in the midst of a tropical rainforest. He was introduced into the world of plants at the age of six when his grandmother, an avid Spanish gardener herself, asked him to help her grow seeds for her pepper garden. He was hooked! By the time he was a teen, he had his own rose and orchid collection numbering in the hundreds. Botany was in his blood, and that is what he set out to study.

His passion brought him to NY in the late seventies to further his education. His tenacity allowed him to work full time at Plant Specialists while he completed a MS in Plant Biology. As a manager at the time he felt unsatisfied with his knowledge of business and business processes. Peter felt compelled to learn, so he then pursued and completed an MBA in Quality Management within a few short years.

Peter’s other passion is teaching. His natural ability is quickly consumed by our staff in all subjects in Botany, Horticulture, and Landscaping. He created an immense reference library of more than 3,500 plants providing an invaluable resource for our staff.

Peter’s breadth of knowledge and wisdom allows him to effectively diagnose the needs of plants. Sometimes just by walking into a garden he can create a prescription that fixes even the hardest issue. He is our Staff Botanist, Diagnostician, and all around Mentor. Recently, he has put his immense knowledge and skills into developing a new department that focuses on Plant Healthcare. As he puts it, “Magic through Science”. The PHC staff that surround him have avidly consumed his teachings. Substantially developing their own plant wisdom, many have taken on difficult plant health issues with spectacular results.

Plant Healthcare has been an instant success with customers! The proper treatment of insects and diseases including Organic methods has made pest control a necessity for every plant. Correcting hormonal imbalances caused by planting in containers or refurbishing soils leached of nutrients by irrigation systems are big challenges PHC has become quite comfortable addressing. The scientific approach to the complex demands of keeping plants healthy in our harsh city environment has made many a customer say WOW!

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