orchis mascula care

[neophyte]

Is this a good terrestrial to start off with or not really? What temps/humidity/watering/medium/general care does it need? Thanks!

[rbarata]

It grows everywhere in Europe, from the Faroe Islands to the Mediterranean basin (North Africa included, obviously).
Temps are cold-cool. Hardy to zone 5.
Some more info.

or

IOSPE

As it is hardy 5, I wouldn't be concerned about the growing conditions. It will probably thrive in your climate outdoors.

[neophyte]

Thanks! Do you think it could handle hotter temperatures or is it definitely a cool grower?

[rbarata]

Some more good info here.

Usually, from my experience, often there are contradicting cultural info across several sources. In this case, what I've found in Orchidwiz and IOSPE is that it's a cold to cool growing which might indicate high altitude habitats. What I found in wiki, is that it grows from sea level to 2.500m.

what do you mean by hotter temps?

As a side note, these are tubers which mean they spend part of their life cycle bellow the surface unnoticed.

---------- Post added at 09:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:44 PM ----------

Good photos of its habitat.

[neophyte]

Ah, well outside it can reach 100°F in the summer. I could always grow these indoors, though.

[Roberta]

Remember that in the hot time of year, the plant is dormant (no water, no fertilizer, just ignore) For all of the Mediterranean-type terrestrials that I grow, I stop watering as soon as they die back, start watering in late October when nights cool off. I don't think I'd try to grow these indoors in a California climate - even close to frost they'd be fine, they get it in their natural habitat. One trick that I learned from the friend who taught me about these... white pots help keep the tubers from getting too hot in the sun.

[neophyte]

Thanks! So even 100°F is fine for these ones?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by neophyte

Thanks! So even 100°F is fine for these ones?

I don't see why not... they get such temperatures in many areas of their natural habitat. They occur over a huge range of southern and central Europe, north Africa and the Middle East.

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by neophyte

Thanks! So even 100°F is fine for these ones?

I think so.

[neophyte]

Thanks all!