Hey Erik, Yes he is the person who I corresponded with on the process for potting up my orchids. He felt I had a decent opportunity for success, since had a cooler and dryer environment then he does in Southern Japan. He has a very good set of YouTube videos on many of the temperate orchid in general. He also shared a friend of his for me to purchase the orchids from who has a west coast nursery. As far as the growing media. I think I’ve been guided down the same path. They wanted a little moisture retentive media just in case I run into a Santa Ana wind event for a few days they can be devastatingly dry. So I followed Botony Boy’s directions pretty much of the way. He was very quick to respond too my inquiry. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Mike Sunset Zone 23 On Mon, Mar 29, 2021 at 11:09 AM Erik Van Lennep via pbs < pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > MIke, > > Have you heard of Botany Boy and come across his blog? He lives in southern > Japan and has shared his experience growing hardy cyps in his climate. > He does talk about the double pot technique for cooling roots. Here is a > link > < > http://botanyboy.org/cypripedium-kentuckiense-the-… > >to > a post of his re: Cyp. Kentuckiense. > > I think in general, cyps, calanthes and other terrestrial orchids will do > better if grown very lean. No humus, no earth. Just a mix of gravel, > charcoal, pumice and the like. > > Keep us posted on how you get on. > > Erik van Lennep > Netherlands > > ........................... > > On Mon, 29 Mar 2021 at 19:32, Mike via pbs < > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > wrote: > > > I’m attempting to grow two Cyp. species of temperate slipper orchids in > a > > double pot method. > > Cyp. Kentuckyiense > > Cyp. Californicum > > > > I’m hoping that evaporative cooling and watering with wicks that bring > > water right up under the roots can simulate environments where they will > > thrive. I’ve heard with these orchids, cool root systems solve many > > problems. I’ve not grown them before as I figured my climate was not > > conducive. So with my extra time this past year to research a new > project > > this is what I came up with. It seems that many of the people in our > group > > also raise orchids so I thought it an off topic, topic of interest.My IR > > pistol thermometer and a slight Santa Ana wind yesterday produced an 8 > > degree lower temp on the inner pot surface vs the outer pot. The growing > > media was also about 4 degrees cooler if I averaged the 5 readings and > > places I read the temps. Soil moisture readings are coming once my new > > meter arrives . They get bright indirect sun and have a great breeze most > > everyday. I’m about 1.5 miles from the bay so I’m moderated from heat > > extremes. The close up is of Cyp. Californicum. The number if growth > tips > > suggests that this plant is likely 10-12?years old. The Cyp. > Kentuckyiense > > has 2 growth tips. > > In the fall I’ll unpot and add new growing media and evaluate how they > did > > during the growing season. > > > > If anyone in the group has attempted this growing method for temperate > > slipper orchids I’d enjoying hearing about your experience. I probably > > should have tried hybrids but really wanted the Kentuckyiense and I am > not > > aware of any hybrids that have Californicum as a parent. > > > > Have a great Monday > > Mike > > Sunset Zone 23 > > _______________________________________________ > > pbs mailing list > > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net>