Bletilla potting medium help! - Orchid Board

Becca · #1 04-20-2010, 12:15 AM

I just purchased a Bletilla Yokohama 'Kate' off of eBay and I have been trying to search what is best for a potting medium. Does anyone have any recommendations? Also any growing tips would be helpful. I did the beginner "I bought it before looking into it's culture needs" thing. Oops! It's arriving bare root by the end of the week and I'd like to be prepared for it! TIA!

smartie2000 · #2 04-20-2010, 03:45 AM

plant it into a terestrial mix.
Something that consists of lots of perlite, sand and some peat/potting soil

Royal · #3 04-20-2010, 10:19 AM

I use equal parts commercial potting soil, pearlite, and peat moss. You could probably get away with just potting soil with some pearlite added. They're not too picky.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #4 04-20-2010, 01:39 PM

Like others have said, potting soil, lots of perlite or pumice, sand.

Excellent drainage and good moisture retention is the key.

The potting soil with mycorrhizae might help a bit.

I'm experimenting with limestone chunks as well (cause they're from the limestone capital of the world - China). So far, so good.

Just as a reminder, stop watering when they drop their leaves in the fall.

Becca · #5 04-20-2010, 03:22 PM

Thanks for the tips everyone! Sounds like I can get all the stuff locally to put together!

I've always seen this orchid sold as an orchid that can be planted in the garden and I thought it was a cool idea. I'm in zone 6 and I have read they can be grown down to zone 5. But what about our hot 100 degree dry summers?

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #6 04-20-2010, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Becca

Thanks for the tips everyone! Sounds like I can get all the stuff locally to put together!

I've always seen this orchid sold as an orchid that can be planted in the garden and I thought it was a cool idea. I'm in zone 6 and I have read they can be grown down to zone 5. But what about our hot 100 degree dry summers?

They'll be fine. They're not like Cyps where you gotta refrigerate them or else.

Here in SoCal, 100 F weather in the summer are not unheard of. Usually it's around the mid to high 90's F.

I grow mine outdoors all year round with no particular special care.

Just don't water them when they drop leaves.

Royal · #7 04-20-2010, 03:33 PM

They can take the heat. It's an oven down here for several months of the year. They are also surprisingly drought tolerant through the summer. Make sure you put them in a spot that gets at least 3 or 4 hours of good sun. I don't have to worry about when to water or when to stop since they're at the mercy of mother nature. The only special care they get is a thicker than normal layer of loose mulch after they freeze back. They want to come up super early and the mulch helps keep the tips from getting damaged from those freaky late frosts. Really a great plant, you'll be fine.

Becca · #8 04-20-2010, 04:00 PM

Boy am I glad to hear they can take the heat! I'm really excited to give this one a try! Unfortunately I have more hot sunny areas then I do shade! Because of that I am tempted to try it in a pot instead of planting in the ground to start off with.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #9 04-20-2010, 09:49 PM

Try terra-cotta pots instead of plastic pots. Keeps things cool.

Becca · #10 04-22-2010, 06:21 PM

Just received my plant today. Good thing I only paid 99 cents for it....it was only one growth...is that normal? It was listed as blooming sized. Also it was shipped bare root but I see some remnants of sphagnum moss from the previous potting medium....could sphagnum moss be used for potting this? I already have some presoaked and it would save me a trip to the store tonight.