Growing Galearis spectabilis as a "houseplant"?

[Paul]

Curious to know if anyone has succeeded in keeping this orchid as a potted plant indoors.

A good soul I know gave me one as part of a misc plant trade. I know this temperate terrestrial chid desires a cold winter dormancy. Being as I live in a third floor apt in the Great White North, planting it in the ground is not an option, nor is leaving it in a pot out on my balcony.

My intent is to overwinter it in my fridge. I have done so with some carnivorous plants before that also required a cold dormancy. I am debating whether to pot the tuber up in lightly moist soil and put it pot & all in the fridge or to keep in in a baggie with barely damp sphag in the fridge. Any suggestion?

[Leafmite]

I have used my fridge for a variety of bulbs and tubers that cannot take hard freezes but need cold. I usually let the bulb/tuber dry for a day or two, then put it in a sealed bag with pine bedding (the stuff used for pets). The bedding helps to absorb excess moisture but the sealed bag helps keep the tuber/bulb from drying out too much.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Unless your temperatures do not exceed 80 F during the late spring to summer, this orchid will be difficult to grow. It does not tolerate heat very well. The root stock rots easily too. Proper storage of the soft, fleshy rhizomes during dormancy is by putting them in a plastic bag or container with media that stay moist, but not soggy and putting them in the fridge for the winter. As I eluded to earlier, this species is spring/summer growing, and winter dormant. This species is a late spring/early summer bloomer. They grow in bright shade and do not self easily. If planning to seed propagate the species, make sure you have other individuals to make outcrosses with. This species is better suited for growing in cold to intermediate temperatures, (36 F - 80 F). It can tolerate colder temperatures, but the shoots would have to be protected. I would not risk exposing them to frost or snow in cultivation even though they are known to naturally come from areas that snow. There are in-situ photos that show what kind of soil they grow in in the wild, but I personally don't know much about the specifics of what it really is composed of.

[Orchid Whisperer]

If you want to try G. spectabilis, grow as a shade garden plant rather than as a houseplant. It requires winter dormancy, which is best provided outdoors.

Plants taken from the wild usually die, but sometimes you can find nursery-grown plants. Soil should be neutral to acidic with some calcium source (limestone, etc) and well drained but moist; mostly gritty mineral soil but with some organic matter too (forest floor leaf litter).

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Forgot...

They are easier to grow with multiple individuals in a pot.