Into the Weeds: Hardy ORCHIDS?! | The Barefooted Gardener

[@PlasBachGarden]

I've never grown any hardy orchids - tempted to give them a try now!

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

You should! They’re wonderful plants.

[@Michael-ub9jb]

Another great video. I always enjoy watching. My success with the Bletilla hardy orchids is dismal. Three years ago I planted 6 different varieties. Three are still alive but not increasing in size at all, some actually have shrunk. I thought I had read they were good woodland plants. Now I see maybe they need much more sun than they get in my gardens. I'll try moving them. Too late this year to move, zone 6b/7a? I bought a hardy Lady Slipper orchid from Plant Delights when on sale last year - another failure. Could be I planted too late in the season. Maybe hardy orchids are not for me. :( I really want them in my garden though.

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

Thanks Michael! Always good to hear from you. I would definitely plant them in maybe 4 to 6 hours of direct sun, and when you move them to that planting site, be sure to work in a good amount of organic matter. I think that you could probably transplant them now, but just be sure to mulch them with like maybe 4 inches of mulch in autumn after they die back naturally. I haven’t even broached any of the lady slippers yet; I have read that they need a really good humus layer, like from quality decomposed hardwood brown mulch, Probably also would help to have some Holly tone. Let me know how it goes!

[@Michael-ub9jb]

@@TheBarefootedGardener Thank you for taking the time to respond, Clark. I'll be moving my Bletilla today. Have a perfect spot I think and also have some really nice decomposed hardwood mulch from some trees that where taken down 4 years ago, chipped and left on my property. If they recover and prosper I'll add more in a couple years. As for lady slippers, probably I won't try again. I say that now but who knows. lol