Bletilla Plant Growing & Care Guide for Gardeners
Article by Dean Ravenscroft, Ph.D. - Updated 22nd Oct 2023
In this Gardener's HQ guide, we'll explore cultivating Bletilla plants in your garden, indoor spaces, and other settings.
- Plant Characteristics: Bletilla are admired for their elegant, orchid-like blooms. Their delicate flowers make them a captivating centerpiece for gardens.
- Ideal Growing Conditions: These terrestrial orchids thrive in dappled shade. They require a well-draining soil enriched with organic matter. Avoid placing them in locations subject to scorching afternoon sun.
- General Care: Ensure regular watering, but don't let the soil become soggy. During dormant periods in winter, be sure to to keep the bulbs relatively dry so as to avoid rot.
- Tips for New Gardeners: Hardy Orchids are among the easier orchids to grow, ths making them a suitable introduction to the orchid family for beginners. Good drainage is crucial, and mulching will help to protect bulbs in colder climates.
Hardy Orchids: Cultivation & Garden Use
Bletilla is a half hardy perennial, and is commonly referred to as the Hardy Orchid.
Though there are many types of orchid, the Bletilla flowers in the early spring with white or purple flowers.
Bletilla striata photograph by Cliff1066.
The stem of these Orchids typically reaches 12 to 20 inches (30 to 50 cm) in height, with the leaves being lance shaped.
They are beautiful plants and should be grown where they can be seen, such as by shaded paths or even in barrels.
How to Grow Bletilla Orchids
Orchids can be grown from either seed or root stocks, if growing Bletilla outdoors then seeds should be sown in the surface from early spring on to the middle of summer.
Bletilla Root stocks should be buried just below the surface in late winter to early spring. It is not very easy to grow Bletilla from seeds indoors, but certainly possible.
Germination may take up to a whole year, but as little as a month. Orchid seeds should be placed on damp blotting paper in a dish. The dish should then be covered with cling-film.
Once seeds germinate they should be transferred to pots with moist soil and kept in light at about 20 degrees Celsius.
They can be transplanted outside following the last frost of spring, at a distance of eight to ten inches (20 to 25 cm) in well drained peat rich soil (enriched with organic matter). Grow in a shaded area of the garden for best results.
Care of Bletilla in the Garden
Bletilla Orchids growth can be aided through regular fertilizing (use a balanced liquid fertilizer bi-weekly during their active growing season) and watering. Ideally grow in an area that receives dappled sunlight.
More plants can be created by dividing large clumps of plants after they have flowered. Some species may be required to be cut back to the ground following flowering. Provide a mulch to help protect the bulbs, and protect them from excess water during the winter. The care of Hardy orchids is not always the easiest, but can be very rewarding.
Bletilla by K Yamada.
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Bletilla Growing and Care Guide
- Common Names: Orchid. Chinese Ground Orchid. Hardy Orchid.
- Family: Orchidaceae.
- Life Cycle: Hardy perennial. Half hardy perennial.
- Height: 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 cm).
- Native: Oriental.
- Growing Region: Zones 9 to 10. To zone 5 with a lot of loving care.
- Flowers: Early summer.
- Flower Details: Purple, white, yellow. Erect racemes. Up to fourteen flowers per shoot. Orchid-like. Lipped.
- Foliage: Lance-shaped. Green.
- Sow Outside: Seeds: Surface. Spring to the middle of summer. Pseudobulbs/root: cover. Late winter to early spring. Spacing 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm).
- Sow Inside: Sow fresh seeds in a saucer upon blotting paper or a soaked towel. Next cover the saucer with glass or cling film. Transplant emerging seedlings to pots. Germination time: one month to one year in the light. Temperature 65 to 70°F (18 to 21°C). Transplant outdoors following the last frost.
- Requirements: Partial and full shade. Do not grow in an area that receives afternoon sun in hotter areas. Good drainage. Soil pH 5.5 to 7.0. Mix in peat and leaf mold to the soil. Provide support. Regular feed. Regular watering. Cut back to the ground in autumn. Protect from slugs. In zone 5 provide a heavy mulch. In zones 6 to 7 provide a moderate mulch made from straw or leaves. Bletilla striata is hardy down to a temperature of 25°F (-3.5°C). May be best to lift plants once they are dormant and store indoors in a frost free area. An alternative is to grow Bletilla in containers and bring them indoors for the winter. Propagate: clumps can be divided once flowering has finished.
- Miscellaneous: Inflorescent shoots are annual in nature.
Some Nice Orchid Pictures
Common Questions
How many members does the Bletilla genus have?
The Bletilla genus includes around five species.
Do members of Bletilla make a good garden or landscaping plant?
Yes, Bletilla, specifically Bletilla striata, is a popular choice in gardens for its attractive, orchid-like flowers.
Which Bletilla species are most frequently grown by gardeners?
Bletilla striata (Hardy Orchid) is the most popular species among gardeners due to its hardiness and beautiful flowers.
Are members of the Bletilla plant genus fragrant?
No, Bletilla plants are not known for fragrance, but they do offer visually pleasing blooms.
What is the perfect location to grow Bletilla?
Bletilla plants prefer a location with partial shade and well-drained, rich soil.
Is Bletilla invasive in the USA?
Currently, Bletilla is not considered invasive in the USA.
How do I remove Bletilla plants from my garden?
Remove Bletilla by carefully digging up the rhizomes, making sure to remove all parts to prevent regrowth.
Summary
Bletilla is a genus in the Orchidaceae family, commonly referred to as hardy orchids or urn orchids. They are native to Asia and are known for their hardiness and charming, Cattleya-like flowers.
To cultivate Bletilla, they should be planted in well-drained soil in a location with dappled shade. They can be planted in the spring as tubers. These orchids prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil and need regular watering during their growing season. However, they're quite hardy and can tolerate colder temperatures than many orchids.
I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Bletilla orchids. You may also enjoy the following growing guides: How to grow Orchis and Martynia plants.
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