"Bletilla orchid grows stronger with pruning By MARIANNE BINETTI ...
Q: ... I have a patch of hardy orchids in my shaded garden... Bletilla striata... although they bloom well, the long stems tend to get floppy and fall all over the pathway that is nearby.... If I prune back the new growth in early spring, will this make the orchids stay low and grow more compact?... M.B.: ... shorten the new growth of these hardy orchid plants in very early spring after you see that the new shoots are about 8 inches tall, Snip off the stems to half their height... the Bletilla orchid will bloom a few weeks later than usual, but the flowers will be easier to enjoy, held on shorter and stronger stems... Bletilla striata... , asking for just a cool location in a shaded spot and lots of organic matter in the soil to keep the roots moist. Once you make them happy, these Chinese ground orchids will return year after year in larger colonies no matter when you decide to prune them back. They tend to bloom better when crowded so even though they can be lifted and shared in early spring as soon as the shoots emerge, they do best when left in place year after year" source : http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/nwgardens/274775_binetti22.html?source=rss ********** regards, VB _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
