Recent content by Clark Thomas Riley

Pubescens thrives here. Native candidum occurs in Washington County, Maryland and central Kentucky.

With time under my belt, I can offer some tips for raising Cypripediums from flasklings. Most importantly, know that it is a cruel world for the little Cyp babies. Direct in-ground planting at this stage invariably gives low yields. At least a year in a protective potted environment will greatly...

Aphids, true, for a few hours. Then they're devoured by natural predators.

My Cypripedium Otto is now in year 6. Has not increased this year, but stable and still beautiful.

When I began growing orchids, a division of Paphiopediluum rothschildianum would run $500–$1,000 and were few and far between. Today, I nice blooming size seedling can be had for $50 and the quality is excellent. His is a plant purchased from Ten Shin Gardens at the 2023 SEPOS show and sale near...

Whoa! Good eye on the cycad. That's Dooon edule, a relatively common cycad from Mexico. I like it better than Cycas revoluta, finding it more graceful. My first encounter with Dioon edule was in a conservatory greenhouse in Chicago, which had a large fruiting specimen. I obtained it from a...

First bloom of Paphiopedilum Yang-Ji Apple x Hung Sheng General which is [philippinense x anitum] x [Saint Swithin x anitum], obtained from Ten Shin Garden Co. Ltd. at this year's SEPOS show . Short time in culture, but very vigorous give 50% anitum!

I expect resilience for these species. I will be boosting the pine needle mulch and watching watering. I am replacing the tulip poplars with American Chestnuts. I'm a member of The American Chestnut Foundation and have seedlings of some of the blight and Phytophthora resistant breeding...

A better photo showing the consistent difference between Cypripedium pubescens and parviflorum var. parviflorum under absolutely identical culture:

My first orchid — April 1957 — was a mail order Cypripedium pubescens, the Large Yellow Ladyslipper. The poor thing spent several tortured months in an apartment west window before passing away. The species is still my favorite. I’m currently kindly growing 3 species varieties: Cypripediums...

My thinking on the red is that Cypripedium Christian (shanxiense x macranthos ssp. hotei-atsumorianum) has the yellow base pigment from shanxiense in half its genome. As noted, the hotei-atsumorianum suppresses the yellow expression in the F1 while imparting a heavy expression of the...

A very warm Spring is pushing Cyps into early bloom here in MidAtlantic Maryland. Excellent growth of Cypripedium Christian — should be in bloom next week. All my clones of Cypripedium pubescens are open now. New this year are Cypripedium acaule, nursery propagated from Carnivorous Plant Nursery...

I have been growing Liparis lilifolia quite well for several years in my bog garden. Several years ago, I came across a large number in a Pennsylvania state forest. While there were many growing in the oak woods, they were sparsely flowered. However, in boggy areas surrounding a lake, there were...

I would note that your japonicum is what I call "the Chinese japonicum." Your variety has a bright white base to the lip and bright "lipstick" around the opening. Most Japanese japonicum have a greenish base. It's not the white sepals and petals of formosanum. I had this variety from a Chinese...

Without assistance, Cyp formosana would be difficult in Montana as it is accustomed to milder winters. On the other hand, you’re in the right zone for cold growers like montanum, guttatum, and passerinum. Water requirements can be tricky.