How to Germinate Cypripedium Calceolus

Commonly known as ladies' slipper orchid, Cypripedium calceolus occurs naturally in moist woodland environments across the Northern Hemisphere. It is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental plant for its attractive, ribbed foliage and unusual flowers, which feature a yellow, bladder-like lower petal topped by three upper petals with a dark burgundy or yellow coloration. Cypripedium calceolus plants grow reliably from fresh seeds, which germinate in approximately two months when exposed to warm, moist and mildly acidic growing medium. However, the seeds must never be exposed to direct sunlight during germination, since the exposure greatly decreases their viability.

Milled peat moss
Sterile potting soil
Coarse sand
3 1/2-inch starter pots
Spray bottle
Propagation warming mat

Instructions

- 1
  Acquire Cypripedium calceolus seeds from a reputable native plant dealer instead of harvesting them from wild plants, which is prohibited throughout much of the species' native North American range.
- 2
  Prepare a pot for each Cypripedium calceolus seed. Mix equal parts milled peat moss, sterile potting soil and coarse-grain sand. Pack the mixture into the bottom third of 3 1/2-inch starter pots. Fill the rest of the pot with loosened soil mixture.
- 3
  Sow one Cypripedium calceolus seed in each pot. Set the seed on the surface of the soil. Spread a 1/8-inch-thick layer of milled peat moss over the seed so it is barely covered.
- 4
  Spritz each pot of soil three or four times with a spray bottle just until the top 1/4 inch is moist, but not sopping wet. Maintain light moisture at this level while germinating the Cypripedium calceolus seeds.
- 5
  Set the pots on a propagation heat mat with the temperature set to 70 F. Turn off the propagation heat mat at night to mimic the cooler nighttime temperatures of the plant's native habitat.
- 6
  Expose the Cypripedium calceolus seeds to six hours of diffuse or dappled light each day. Keep the starter pots away from direct sunlight at all times.
- 7
  Watch for germination in eight weeks. Keep the Cypripedium calceolus seedlings in their starter pots for a month after germination then plant them in a permanent bed with acidic soil and dappled shade.

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