Terrestrial Orchids 2016

[sjusovare]

I never had any luck with Ponerorchis, I tried several times with plant from several sources and I always end up killing them before they even set flowers, watering is something I have not mastered with those, especially with the conditions here where one day can be really warm and the next kind of cold... So far I have tried seramis, perlite, akadama.. and they always rot at the base of the stem

[sjusovare]

On a side note, does anyone know where I could get seeds from Ophrys sphegode, holoserica and insectifera?

[sjusovare]

Here's the invasive pest of the back of the garden... Epipactis helleborine

[WimB]

Calopogon tuberosus and Pogonia ophioglossoides seem to like the (thus far) cool summer.

[Steve Garvie]

What a superb display of these bog orchids!!!   

Wim do you grow these with some overhead protection?
Are they in full sun?
What soil mix do you use?


Sorry for the many questions but I would be very grateful for your advice.

[sjusovare]

The last one to flower here is an odd seemingly alba form or Epipactis helleborine.



I don't quite understand where this one is from, it just mysteriously appeared 10 years ago in the middle of the others. It is taller than the other form (80-100cm when the others are rather 50-60cm), grows in tight clumps of 8-10 spikes and seem to increase only vegetatively since none of the spontaneous seedlings are of that form.
I never succeeded to germinate them in vitro (but I have really poor germination rates in vitro with the others as well, there's something I don't really understand with Epipactis seeds, either dormancy or too thick seed coat), but it does multiply well from pieces of roots, which seem able to generate shoots easily.

[Steve Garvie]

Various forms of Dactylorhiza in bloom here:

Dactylorhiza elata -probably with some purpurella blood.


Dactylorhiza purpurella -a dwarf plant in the wild (it grows a few hundred metres away from my garden) which grows taller in garden soil.


Dactylorhiza maculata -garden hybrid, probably with elata blood.


Dactylorhiza maculata -probable hybrid with a rather plainly-marked lip.


Dactylorhiza maculata -a form with a well-marked lip.

[johnw]

Steve  - Are you holding out on us?  I see a well-grown Rhododendron proteoides there!


john

[Steve Garvie]

Steve  - Are you holding out on us?  I see a well-grown Rhododendron proteoides there!


john

You have a keen eye John, though I'm not sure how well-grown it is as it has yet to flower.
I bought it as a small plant from Glendoick about 18 years ago.

[Claire Cockcroft]

These epipactis can't compare to Steve's dachtylorhizas.  E. helleborine came into my garden of its own accord and has spread around; E. gigantea was a gift.  This year they've both bloomed better than they usually do.
...Claire

[sjusovare]

Nice ones Claire.

I just love how variable E. helleborine is, in the same colony there can be many totally different colors.

I unfortunately have no luck with my E. gigantea, it's really sulking and refuses to flower since 3 years

[Claire Cockcroft]

E. gigantea grows next to water and likes its feet fairly wet.  Mine is now shaded a little too much for a good bloom because my plum tree didn't read its label:  "semi-dwarf". 

[Gabriela]

Early July is a second flowering period for orchids in Ontario with Pogonia ophioglossoides in full flower.


The second image is not too great but for the ones interested in growing it in the garden it shows that can be tried like this - in a calcareous meadow-marsh in association with other species (in the image: Lobelia spicata, Polygala senega, Castilleja and others…).

[Gabriela]

Calopogon tuberosus and Platanthera psicodes just starting to flower.

[Maggi Young]

The second image is not too great but for the ones interested in growing it in the garden it shows that can be tried like this - in a calcareous meadow-marsh in association with other species (in the image: Lobelia spicata, Polygala senega, Castilleja and others…).

 Lovely combination, Gabriela.