Bletilla - Hardy Orchids you can grow in your garden
Of the 200,000 orchid species, 200 are hardy enough
to grow in home gardens. Of those, many are easy to grow and add beauty and
interest to the usual mix of plants.
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One key to growing hardy orchids is to avoid killing
them with kindness. In general, they
prefer the low fertility provided by good compost, filtered sunlight and
average to low water.
The orchids that enjoy the weather found in the
southern states, zones 6 to 9, are Calanthe, Chinese Hardy Orchids – the
Blettilla species, Grass Pink Calopogon, White Egret Flower – Pecteilis
radiate, Fragrant Nodding Ladies Tresses and Lady’s Slippers – the Cypripediums.
For beginners in outdoor orchid growing, Chinese
Ground Orchids or Bletilla varieties are the best place to start. They are reliable for spring color, attractive
leaf form and when established they multiply to create colonies. Pollinators
love them and despite the fact that they grow in shade, snails and slugs ignore
them.
Kay Backues, president of the Tulsa Orchid Society
said, “If you want to grow something you will be successful with and love, grow
Bletillas.”
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During the growing and blooming seasons, Bletilla
orchids need rain or supplemental water. They cannot thrive in wet, heavy clay
and are most likely to multiply in well-drained soil without standing water.
During the summer, they need a little water. Backeus
said she waters hers the same as she waters her annuals and Echinaceas.
Avoid planting Bletilla among plants that spread by
runner or by seed. In order to form clumps they have to grow without
competition from plants that invade their territory.
“Bletillas cannot out-compete other plants,” said
Backeus. “Mine are in a 2 by 3 foot bed and in the ten years they have grown
there, clumps have been removed for sharing and they filled in the space
quickly”.
As the clump grows, it can be divided but the
offspring should be replanted as soon as possible so they do not dry out.
Remove the soil from the clump of corms and cut the clump into pieces with two
or three growing points. Dust the pieces with sulphur or let them harden off
for a few days so the open cuts heal a bit before planting.
If the new pieces cannot be replanted right away,
put them in bags of dry peat moss and refrigerate.
In his book, “Growing Hardy Orchids”, John Tullock
calls Bletilla orchids the queen of hardy orchids (Timber Press, www.timberpress.com,
2005).
Tullock says that his first Bletillas were planted
on the northeast side of his house foundation where they thrived among Hostas,
ferns and a Japanese maple tree. He amended the planting area with compost,
peat moss, leaves and composted pine bark.
Bletilla striata flower buds and leaves emerge at
the same time and bloom in March, most years.
“Late frosts will kill the
flower buds of Bletilla,” said Backues. “Daffodils can take a frost and still
bloom, but hardy orchids cannot. If a late frost is predicted I throw a towel
or a blanket on them.”
The standard Chinese
Ground Orchid is the most hardy, purple variety, Bletilla striata. Bletilla
albostriata has narrow, pleated white-edged leaves. Gotemba Stripes has narrow
gold streaks on the leaves.
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Kuchibeni has two-toned purple and white flowers. Murasaki
kichibi has pale blue-lavender flowers with a darker color on the lip. Alba is
white and may also be called First Kiss by garden stores.
A slightly fussier and
less cold hardy variety, Chinese Butterfly Orchid, Bletilla ochracea, has
cream-yellow flowers with a purple and yellow lip. It likes more sun than the
other varieties.
“Asian Ground Orchids
are tough, pest-free and beautiful Terrestrial Orchids,” said Backeus. “The
flowers are classic miniature orchids that are readily available and easy to
grow.”
Resources
Tulsa Orchid Society, Emilie Kraft (918) 371-4723, eclicity@mindspring.com
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