Tips for Growing Calypso bulbosa Orchid
Once you have determined that Calypso is historically native to your area you are ready to become an observer of your prospective area for naturalizing. Here it is important to find the place that most suits Calypso. In a perfect world this would be where you want the plants to adorn your garden but in fact that is not where the orchid usually wants to be. The places where Calypso is most happy are a little like the Greek home of the nymph Kalypso, hidden. Much of the work with Calypso is finding the right spot. If you are truly observant nature will do all the work after you sow the seed. Nothing will be required of you except to protect the bed from predators and foot traffic. If the seed successfully completes the required minimum 70 to 75 weeks to two years of underground development, you may see your first tiny leaf in the winter of the following year after sowing in the fall. You will see nothing happening for at least a year and 5 months after you sow the seed.
Take a close look at your site and find the perfect spot or spots to sow the orchid seed. The best places are often invisible at first. It is necessary to become an observer in all seasons. You must imagine the quality of shade and light, the absence of standing water, Calypso prefers a slight to deep slope, and the availability of the right leaf fall from the right trees and forest debris to cool and nourish the developing Calypso protocorms and the symbiotic fungus essential to the germination, growth and maturation of this orchid. Calypso loves the presence of rotting wood natural to a forest floor and prefers about 60 percent shade. A little dappled sun is all right, even direct morning or afternoon light, but the greenest largest leaf will develop and live longer in complete or at least 60 percent shade.
Be particularly careful not to have tough broadleaf tree leaves carried onto the seeded areas by wind or nearby trees . Here in California the tough Madrone leaves falling in the spring can smother the tiny leaves and flowers and eventually push Calypso out of a niche. Calypso loves to be under cool, shady, coniferous trees. The conifers have needle like leaf types whereas broadleaf trees can smother and suffocate the orchid. Calypso will not tolerate soil temperatures over 60 degrees for long periods in her summer dormant period. Rain is unusual here in the summer and the beds become very dry. In fact when I put the soil moisture gage in the soil for testing around my plants and seed beds last August I thought it was in need of new batteries because the needle never budged from zero. I took the moisture meter down to change the batteries and discovered it doesn't use batteries. The beds are just that dry! The naturally occurring fungus will support Calypso through the year and especially through the droughts of summer, even through a season of lazy dormancy with no signs of growth above ground.
Take a close look at your site and find the perfect spot or spots to sow the orchid seed. The best places are often invisible at first. It is necessary to become an observer in all seasons. You must imagine the quality of shade and light, the absence of standing water, Calypso prefers a slight to deep slope, and the availability of the right leaf fall from the right trees and forest debris to cool and nourish the developing Calypso protocorms and the symbiotic fungus essential to the germination, growth and maturation of this orchid. Calypso loves the presence of rotting wood natural to a forest floor and prefers about 60 percent shade. A little dappled sun is all right, even direct morning or afternoon light, but the greenest largest leaf will develop and live longer in complete or at least 60 percent shade.
Be particularly careful not to have tough broadleaf tree leaves carried onto the seeded areas by wind or nearby trees . Here in California the tough Madrone leaves falling in the spring can smother the tiny leaves and flowers and eventually push Calypso out of a niche. Calypso loves to be under cool, shady, coniferous trees. The conifers have needle like leaf types whereas broadleaf trees can smother and suffocate the orchid. Calypso will not tolerate soil temperatures over 60 degrees for long periods in her summer dormant period. Rain is unusual here in the summer and the beds become very dry. In fact when I put the soil moisture gage in the soil for testing around my plants and seed beds last August I thought it was in need of new batteries because the needle never budged from zero. I took the moisture meter down to change the batteries and discovered it doesn't use batteries. The beds are just that dry! The naturally occurring fungus will support Calypso through the year and especially through the droughts of summer, even through a season of lazy dormancy with no signs of growth above ground.
Labels: bulbosa Orchid
posted by SEAGAMES 2009 @ 8:59 PM,
