How to Grow Showy Lady's Slippers

The legacy of Bill Ballard lives because he freely shared his knowledge, his plants and his time. Scott Durkee of New Haven, Vermont, read one of Ballard's scientific papers on propagating lady's slippers in the lab back in 1992.

He contacted Ballard—who offered encouragement and advice—and began his own experiments, which evolved into the Vermont Ladyslipper Cos., which produces laboratory-propagated lady's slippers for sale.

If you are willing to do a little extra work, you can grow showy lady's slippers, They like an environment that is slightly alkaline and constantly moist but not soggy. They do best with two to three hours of direct early-morning or late-afternoon sun, with dappled shade the rest of the day. They will grow in USDA zones 3-6, which means winter low temperatures of-35 to o degrees Fahrenheit. They like a soil rich in organic matter. If you don't have a wet site on your property, you can create one by using a plastic liner and following the directions that come with your lady's slipper.

You can get information and lab-propagated bare-root lady's slipper orchids from Vermont Ladyslipper Cos. (go to www.vtladyslipper.com). For the less ambitious, potted lady's slippers may be purchased from a number of nurseries in the Northeast, including White Flower Farm (call 800-503-9624 or go to www.whiteflowerfarm.com). Note: They're pricey—one orchid costs $145.

www.vtladyslipper.com

www.whiteflowerfarm.com