Terrestrial orchids 2011 to 2014

[Tony Willis]

I keep mine damp and cool in clay pots plunged in sand in a north facing frame all year round. No sun ever.I am now in my third year but this will hopefully be my first flowers as they are now mature enough.

[Graham Catlow]

I keep mine damp and cool in clay pots plunged in sand in a north facing frame all year round. No sun ever.I am now in my third year but this will hopefully be my first flowers as they are now mature enough.

Thanks Tony,
I don't have a plunge bed but will keep it out of the sun in a north facing aspect.

[LarsB]

Outdoors it is still cold and i've only seen the tips of the first orchids emerge, but indoors the mediteranian orchids are flowering.

I've been growing mediteranian Ophrys and Orchis in pots for a few years now and i'm gradually getting better at it. Right now i have four in flower and several more will be flowering soon.

One of my favourites is Orchis italica:



Orchis anthropophora has proved to be fairly easy to grow for me. It has flowered every year since i got it. I've tried it outside, but that failed. I did try at the worst possible time as the winter 2010-2011 was the worst in many years here. Still, i have it in a pot:



This Orchis provincialis was one i got without a label. I'm pretty sure it is provincialis as i have another in flower.



Last one for now is Ophrys ferrum.

[Maren]

Well done, Lars, these are not easy subjects to grow.

[Maggi Young]

Please see this thread for details of an online petition to save an area in glasgow with a wild orchid population. You need not  be a local to support this campaign.

http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=8766.new#new

[LarsB]

Here's three more.


Ophys lutea, a small flower but very yellow, if you're into that:



Orchis tridentata. Not a fantastic flowering this year.



Orchis simia. When you look at the small men on the stalk you kind of understand why so much folklore has developed around these plants.

[mark smyth]

Brilliant orchids everyone and some very desirable ones - A. morio pale forms and O. italica

[Pauli]

Hello Lars,

your morio is actually Orchis simia!

[LarsB]

Thanks Pauli. I don't know where my head was when i wrote morio. It is corrected.

[mark smyth]

Does anyone else see a samurai warrior in Lars yellow orchid flower?

[Maggi Young]

Does anyone else see a samurai warrior in Lars yellow orchid flower?

I see what you mean..... but the flower is not so fierce!

[fredg]

These have been in flower for ages, I keep forgetting to take photos.

Pterostylis curta

[Neil]

After a heavy frost, which was not forecast and has taken its toll on some of ophrys.

Ophrys fusca subsp. fusca

[Tony Willis]

Some of mine in flower today

Ophrys lutea with flowers twice the normal size
Ophrys lutea
Serapis vomeracea
Ophrys speculum
Orchis pallens
Orchis italica ?

[Maggi Young]

Super selection, Tony. Doesn't the Ophrys speculum look exactly like a bee climbing a flower stem?