So I want to start by saying that if I don’t think it can be done safely, I will absolutely not touch these plants. Still, there is a local empty lot, not terribly far away from where I live (Southern Maine), and in addition to the two clumps of pink ladies' slippers in this photo, there is another one a little farther back out of frame.
Historically there’s been at least one clump of them in this general area for maybe 10 years now and they have spread slightly, but only just if possible I would like to try to find a way to divide them and spread them out a little bit more so that they can continue to spread and get established in the area.
Especially because not terribly long ago, a bunch of delinquent kids set fire to part of this area. Nothing got horribly damaged, but I can’t necessarily count on them having an entirely safe location, so I’m hoping that by spreading them out I can give them a better shot.
The place that they’re at is generally ignored by just about everybody except the occasional dog walker and has a lot of other native species in it. It’s been a surprisingly nice oasis of wild habitat in the middle of a residential area, especially since there’s not as much traffic in the last few years than there was in the past, but I don’t want this little holdout spot to become at risk if anything changes so if I can, I’d like to try to establish them in a second location for safekeeping.
However while I have dealt with dividing other species of plants, I don’t have experience with orchids and I just know that they are notoriously fussy and that you have to make sure that you get a chunk of soil with them so before I attempted anything at all, I thought I should get a second opinion.
In total over this last spring, I believe I saw nine individual flower heads spread over 2 main clumps and one smaller one a short distance away.
Can anyone offer any advice or suggestions?
by FioreCiliegia1
9 Comments
try collecting the seed heads and spreading them in a similar habitat.
Before starting, I’d get a pH test. You need that soil extremely acidic. You’re right to also include a chunk of soil from the current site so you can transfer over some of the necessary bacteria.
I would double check laws as well. In MA, it’s illegal to mess with lady slippers
Maybe put in a call TO Hillside Nursery in MA, who specialize in Lady Slippers? They’d know a lot about propagation.
From what I read though, propagating by splitting clumps or rhizomes in early spring is a good shout.
Especially If you don’t know what you’re doing, don’t touch them, only harvest seeds and go from there.
With all of the warnings about not to dig up orchids I wouldn’t even take the chance. They are obviously thriving there and dispersing their seeds annually to populate the local area. Read the book “the orchid thief” and you’ll never consider digging up an orchid again. Orchids rely heavily on their mycorrhizal hosts and once disturbed or dug up they die.
There are sources online that will sell you lab grown orchids if you are really interested in trying to grow them. Someone needed to say it, so I’m going to say it. It’s not Pokémon and we don’t need to catch them all.
The propagation itself isn’t difficult, but maintaining the specific soil and environmental conditions in an artificial environment is incredibly specific and labor intensive. Lady’s Slippers are so elusive because of their exacting requirements. It’s best to appreciate them and let them be.
I have never heard of anyone trying to garden or plant these. I was always told to not touch them even as a small chikd as they’re very delicate.
I wouldn’t. Unless you really know what you’re doing they’re likely to die.
Go through nurseries who sell them.