Watering, fertilizing, cutting and more

How do I water the lady's slipper orchid correctly?

The lady's slipper orchid loves a slightly moist substrate, which in the meantime dries on the surface. Please do not water the plant until you have felt dry soil with your finger. If you prefer a coarse-grained substrate, simply use a watering indicator to see the current water requirement.

Should I fertilize a Cypripedium or not?

The exact conditions on Location define the actual nutritional needs. The more nutritious the earth, the less fertilization should be. It is usually sufficient if you give a liquid orchid fertilizer every 4 weeks from May to August.

When do I cut back the terrestrial orchid?

The Cypripedium orchid begins to pull in its aboveground plant parts from the end of August. At this time, the remaining nutrients are transferred from the leaves to the underground rhizomes. This process should not be interrupted by a premature cut. Only cut the lady's slipper orchid close to the ground when the foliage has completely died.

Do you need winter protection?

The lady's slipper orchid comes from habitats in the northern hemisphere in a comparatively cool climate. Therefore, the plant has a robust winter hardiness of up to - 25 degrees Celsius. The only requirement is that the roots are under a thick blanket of snow. Where this premise is not met, we recommend these precautions:

• Before the first frost, cut off all shoots close to the ground
• Cover the planting area with breathable fleece, autumn leaves or needles
• Leave the winter protection in place until ground frosts are no longer to be expected

If your noble garden guest has already decided in late autumn to produce the first shoots, please do not cut them off. Instead, cover the outdoor orchid with a plexiglass disc that is on supports or stones about 10 to 20 cm above the cheeky stems.