What did you get, Orchids?

You need to give us more information. There are very few orchids which can be grown in the ground especially in your growing zone.

Jane

Jane, I am very familiar with orchids that need to be winterized indoors....in fact I have several. I was surprised when a friend gave me what she called "garden orchids." Apparently they grow outdoors and to zone 5. I've been having difficulty finding a whole lot of information on them. They were given to her also by a friend of hers , here in KY.

I checked in with her to try and get more information. This is the link she sent me, so I suppose I will go with the information it holds. http://www.phytesia.com/en/cultivation-how-to-grow-hardy-orchids.php?genre=1&PHPSESSID=46e9ccb9fb8ab1f29d0a0b28bc6106f9

Learn something new every day! Thanks!

Denise

Thanks, do you have photos of the plants?

Jane

Hi

You should be able to grow them there There is a rather large family of Bletilla often called Hardy orchids . They are a terrestrial, native to temperate asia. They do require a cool/cold rest period . I've tried them in florida and they fail to go dormant resulting in growth but no flowers.

You could check out the Pacific bulb site for how much cold is required ?? gary

Thank you, so much, Gary!

Sorry, Jane, I missed your post. I only have the bulbs/tubers. And now they are in the ground. Hopefully they will come up in the spring. :)

Bletilla striata is easy to grow here. No snow ever and average winter low temperature about 7C at night. Days in winter probably not as warm as in Florida so the soil temperature (i suspect) is between 40 & 50 F.

arthurm

Can you get them to flower well in your area?? I found them very easy to grow but usually failed to flower or very weakly. i always blamed that on the lack of rest period . Have a whole host of bulbous plants that do that in my area lol pace 77 should have much better luck IF it doesn't get too cold?? gary

We shall see, Gary. So far our winter has been VERY mild. I have a habit of planting things in the gardens then they come up the next year and I have to struggle to remember what it is and where I got it from. I call them my garden surprises! Makes gardening fun when I find unexpected beauties. :)

Denise

Gary, one lady in our orchid society grows them in a garden bed. Do not know the fine details, but I observed that the bed would not get much sun mid winter so that the soil would remain a bit cooler longer.

I think the joke 10b winter here lasts a bit longer than there and although the Pacific Ocean is warm it is not as warm as the gulf stream.