Terrestrial orchids 2011 to 2014

[johnralphcarpenter]

Yes, and still way below the limit for the forum. 


And I think that's a Dactylorhiza fuchsii  

Thanks. Common Spotted Orchid eh? Not something rare!

[Tony Willis]

A couple in flower today

Goodyera oblongifolia, small flowers but interesting

Calopogon tuberosus albiflorus

[Maggi Young]

Thanks. Common Spotted Orchid eh? Not something rare!

In MY book, each and every one of these beauties is a rarity to be cherished.  Remember, the servant classes used to be fed vast quantities of  salmon and oysters............

[johnralphcarpenter]

In MY book, each and every one of these beauties is a rarity to be cherished.  Remember, the servant classes used to be fed vast quantities of  salmon and oysters............

Our servants still get salmon (only joking!). But I agree; its "Common" common name does not do it justice. All orchids are wonderful.

[Maren]

I believe in plant names the word "Common" just means abundant, wide spread, easy to find etc as it used to be before we covered the countryside in chemicals - oh dear, mustn't go there. No class distinction here, methinks.

[Steve Garvie]

Epipactis palustris
The flowers are small and fairly numerous but reward close inspection.

[Tim Harberd]

Hi There,
   Backpacking round the Isle of Man last week I kept a keen eye out for orchids going round Point of Ayre…. Saw a few Pyramidals… all well past their ‘best before’ date.
   Later in the day, with time running short, I was despatched to RUN to the shop in Jurby for provisions…  As ‘luck’ would have it, that’s when I came across a population that would have merited further attention, only I didn’t even have time to ditch the rucksack whilst snatching a couple of hasty shots.
   To be honest, I reckon these ones look fairly ‘fragrant’. What is the definitive difference between the two?

Tim DH

[hud357]

Having been through 'back posts' with no success I decided to to put my question here. Hope nobody minds.

I just came to knock some Ophrys apifera out of the pots to examine and re-pot.
I have had them for a few years but every year the 'bulbs' are getting smaller. This year is no exception.

What am I doing wrong? What 'compost' do others grow them in? Looking at some of the pictures on here some of you obviously know what you are doing.   

[Graham Catlow]

Epipactis palustris
The flowers are small and fairly numerous but reward close inspection.


Another great an image Steve!
I always enjoy your close up images but we never see your garden. Do you have some photos of that show your planting schemes?

[Graham Catlow]

After many years of disappointment and thoughts of moving them on I have finally managed to flower Disa uniflora. In fact two flowers. I took this photo several days ago but waited for the second to open. Unfortunately it has but is a little deformed so am settling for this single image.

[Neil]

Having been through 'back posts' with no success I decided to to put my question here. Hope nobody minds.

I just came to knock some Ophrys apifera out of the pots to examine and re-pot.
I have had them for a few years but every year the 'bulbs' are getting smaller. This year is no exception.

What am I doing wrong? What 'compost' do others grow them in? Looking at some of the pictures on here some of you obviously know what you are doing.   

I use the following, which works for me, in the following parts

3  potting grit
2  loam (this is from molehills on the south down and is quite open and grity)
2  perlite
2 modular clay
1 leaf mould

And I feed with Akerenes Rain Mix at every watering

My pots are also in a plunge bed.

[SteveC2]

My mix is a whole lot more easily available!  Equal parts John Innes number 2, horticultural grit, and perlite, perhaps a little fine bark for those that experience tells me like it a little damper. I use clay pots, and I am using a plunge bed as well, but when that is full I move onto benching, with no obvious down side.  I tend to put my bigger pots on the benches, those with several plants in, as I guess these are less likely to dry out.  I feed very very little, perhaps once a month if the conditions are suitable, that is warm and bright enough for the plants to actually be growing and I tend to use miracle grow early in the growth period and tomorite after Christmas, both very weak, perhaps 1/8 strength.

Moles seem to be very rare around here, either the ground is too dry and sandy, or heavily agricultural.   I have given up trying to make leaf mould.  I'd always been told to use beech or oak leaves but the damn things just don't break down.  I have some which are three years old now, sliced up in the mower, put into perforated black plastic bags, kept a little damp, and still totally unusable, plus full of all manner of wee beasties.

I think apifera is one of the more difficult Ophrys, its later flowering time means that it is more susceptible to drying out if we have a hot spring.

[Steve Garvie]

Epipactis palustris
The flowers are small and fairly numerous but reward close inspection.


Another great an image Steve!
I always enjoy your close up images but we never see your garden. Do you have some photos of that show your planting schemes?

Graham, you would be sadly disappointed by my garden. Much of what I grow is in pots -in frames, in a greenhouse and in an open shadehouse structure. There are a few small enclaves in the open garden with the occasional interesting thing but the bulk of my garden comprises of untidy, overgrown, leggy rhododendrons and other shrubs. The whole lot needs re-vamped but this will have to wait a few years until I retire. Meanwhile I take close-up images from carefully chosen points of view that create the false impression that I am a plantsman of some skill when the real truth is very different!   

[Nova]

Spathoglottis ixioides, a dainty species from Eastern Himalaya with similar growing conditions as Pleiones.

[Maggi Young]

Nice accessory you have there, Khadija!