Showy Lady Slipper: Diseases and Remedies (Cypripedium reginae)

NOTE: Showy Lady Slipper may be referred to as Cypripedium reginae in this article, in fact, those are the same plants, Cypripedium reginae is the botanical name for Showy Lady Slipper.

The Showy Lady’s Slipper (Cypripedium reginae) is cold hardy in USDA Zones 2 through 5 and the cooler parts of Zone 6. The state flower of Minnesota was native to the Northeast and Midwest. It became illegal to pick or dig up these plants in 1925. In several states, this orchid is listed as threatened or historical.

Why does my Cypripedium reginae roots have rot?

Root rot on your Showy Lady Slipper (Cypripedium reginae) can be fatal if not treated with care. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you follow our guide to keep your plant alive if the symptoms occur: Root soft and blackened.
Showy

Why does my Showy Lady Slipper have gray mold spots?

A particular fungus that frequently affects flowers and spreads quickly is known as gray mold spots. This fungus is most likely to blame if you see any brown (or gray) spots. Don’t ignore these signs because doing so could cause your plant to die.

Our Solution

The solution is quite logical when you know the cause of the problem. Most of the time, it is due to overwater of the Cypripedium reginae. We advise you to remove the infected parts of the plant, cut off the infected roots and leaves, then repot your plant using sterile potting soil and a clean pot.

Why does my Showy Lady Slipper have leaf spots?

Leaf This type of disease is one of the most frustrating for Showy Lady Slipper owners, we give you all the leads to spot and save your plants that present symptoms such as leaves that suddenly change color, or wilt/droop.

Why are my Showy Lady Slipper leaves turning yellow?

Yellowing leaves are arguably the most prevalent issue in the gardening world. Overwatering or a lack of nutrients are the 2 main causes of this issue.

Whether you think your plants are getting too much water, cut back on how often you water them, and take the following measures to see if they might be nutritionally deficient:

Each deficiency produces a different yellowing on the Cypripedium reginae in question, here’s how to spot them:

  • Yellow patches between leaf veins on elder leaves are the first sign of magnesium shortage. Veins continue to be green while the leaf’s core turns yellow. The leaf’s edges yellow last.
  • Iron deficiency also shows as yellowing between leaf veins, but it hits young leaves on plant tops and branch tips first.
  • The newest leaves are first affected by sulfur deficiency, rendering them completely yellow.
  • Insufficient potassium causes the leaf edges to turn brilliant yellow while the interior of the leaf stays green. Older leaves show the symptoms initially, and the leaf edges quickly darken.
  • Nitrogen deficiency shows up as a general yellowing. Older, inner leaves turn yellow first. As it progresses, yellowing moves outward, eventually reaching young leaves, too.

Our Solution

You only need to respond to the signs mentioned above. A gardening store expert will be able to provide you advice on how to purchase a specific soil to treat a potassium or nitrogen deficiency. Additionally, you can reduce how often you water your plants.

Is my Showy Lady Slipper sunburned?

You can easily tell if your Showy Lady Slipper (your Cypripedium reginae) has a sunburn. In this case, your plant will change color, starting to turn yellow or white, much like it does on us.

Sunburned

The leaves of your Showy Lady Slipper can also change color in case it gets too much water or not enough light, as we saw above.

The bottom of the yellow leaves with a shaded area closer to the base can be examined to determine if they have been sunburned. If this part remains greener, the yellow leaf is most likely sunburned and not something else.

Why are my Showy Lady Slipper leaves turning brown?

A plant’s browning leaves are typically a symptom that it has been sunburned and has been exposed to excessive amounts of direct sunlight. Don’t worry; your plant probably won’t perish as a result, but its growth will be negatively impacted.

Should I leave my Cypripedium reginae in direct sunlight?

No! If your Cypripedium reginae (or Showy Lady Slipper) has the symptoms described above, don’t leave it in direct sunlight, that’s the reason why your Showy Lady Slipper is in such a state!

Our Solution

The remedy, as said in the paragraph above, is simple: just move your plant’s Showy Lady Slipper out of direct sunlight. Your plant should swiftly re-grow with this strategy and appropriate watering.

Why are my Cypripedium reginae leaves drooping or wilting ?

When you become dehydrated, this usually happens. Large plants are more vulnerable since they need more water on a regular basis than smaller plants.

Drooping

An easy way to know if your Cypripedium reginae is lacking water is to under-weigh its pot, if it looks light, it means that the soil and the roots are probably quite dry, and therefore need water!

Our Solution

In order to ensure that the roots of your plant receive the water’s benefits, you must first moisten the soil in the container if it is absolutely dry. One common error is to immediately drown the Showy Lady Slipper after a dry period in the belief that it requires a lot of water.

This is the case, but giving too much water at once is the best way to finish it off, you should actually water the soil normally, resuming a quiet watering rhythm.

Caring Tips for Cypripedium reginae

Water Occasionally

Water is essential to the survival of your plant, however, it is important to balance the rate of watering. As we explained above, overwatering could have fatal consequences for your Cypripedium reginae.

Touching the soil will let you know whether your plant needs water or not; if it still feels damp, it’s generally best to wait a few more days.

Always keep temperatures stable

It’s also a good idea to keep your Cypripedium reginae at a constant temperature, especially if it’s kept indoors. In general, at GreenShack, we suggest booking a temperature between 65 and 85 degrees F. Of course, keep your Cypripedium reginae away from radiators, air conditioners, and other sources of hot or cold air.

Keep your Showy Lady Slipper Dust-Free

This one is about houseplants. Your indoor plants’ leaves get dusty just like your furniture does. The problem is that this might prevent photosynthesis from beginning, which would result in the plants gradually losing their color.

This would also make the pests happy, a real descent into hell for your Showy Lady Slipper.

To remove the dust, gently rub the plant’s leaves with a microfiber cloth. Dust can be removed more easily with a damp cloth, but stay away from corrosive substances like rubbing alcohol!

Keep drainage in mind

If you have a tendency to overwater, you should be mindful of your drainage, and if they don’t already have them, we suggest selecting a saucer and a pot with drainage holes.

If your pots don’t already have holes in them, you can add volcanic rocks (or any other pebbles with holes) to the bottom of your pot in the meantime. This will assist in creating a channel and keep the water from pooling there for an extended period of time, protecting the roots from decay.