Garden orchids
Hardy garden orchids
Orchids are among the Germans' favourite houseplants. However, there are also some terrestrial species from Europe and Asia that thrive outdoors. Garden orchids are special pieces of jewellery for balconies and flower beds, as their extravagant flowers are real eye-catchers.
Probably the best-known garden orchids are the lady's slipper (Cypripedium) and the orchid (Dactylorhiza). However, lesser-known species of the genus Bletilla, which are ideal for orchid beginners, specimens of the genus Pleione with their extraordinarily large flowers, or Epipactis orchids also decorate the garden in a special way.
Care and tips for garden orchids
What makes the right location for orchids in the garden
If you want to embellish your garden with an orchid, the soil conditions and sunlight at the respective location will determine which garden orchid is the right one. Only the ragwort can tolerate full sun in the long term. Other species, such as the woodland orchid lady's slipper, feel more comfortable in morning or evening sun or in partial shade.
There is a suitable orchid for both rather wet soils and those where rainwater seeps away quickly. Moist beds are the ideal location for wet meadow inhabitants such as the orchid. If the soil is clayey, you should work rotten wood chips into the soil before planting in order to adapt the soil climate to the orchid's requirements. To improve the drainage in the soil for ragwort and lady's slipper orchids, which are quite sensitive to moisture, you can pour some gravel, expanded clay or pumice into the planting hole. Also make sure they are good neighbours. Garden orchids are not fond of over-rooted soil or fast-growing plants that might overgrow them.
Rest period and growth phases throughout the year for garden orchids
Garden orchids have more pronounced dormancy and growth phases than their relatives in the living room. They begin to sprout in spring and flower - depending on the species - in spring, summer or even into autumn. Once the flowers have withered, the foliage also dies back and garden orchids invest a lot of energy in root growth and continue to spread underground. It almost looks as if it is dying, but there is no need to worry. To overwinter, garden orchids retreat into the soil to spend the cold season in their underground parts. They can withstand temperatures of up to minus twenty degrees Celsius.
The orchid of the Orchis genus and the ragwort flower early in the year and go into their first dormant phase in midsummer to protect themselves from heat and drought. In autumn, they awaken again and produce new leaves with which they go into hibernation. A blanket of leaves or fleece protects them from frost on particularly cold winter nights. It is not necessary to cut back the dead parts of the plant. The plant will continue to recycle nutrients from the old foliage for the coming dormant period. If you do, make sure you only remove brown and dead leaves.
Lady's slipper, epipactis and bletilla are particularly prolific. They produce more and more shoots each year from their increasingly lush root system. If you give them the space they need, they will colonise entire beds with dozens of plants after a few years. Garden orchids are easy to care for Only in exceptional situations do orchids and the like require special care. They only utilise very small amounts of nutrients and only need to be fertilised once or twice during the formation of new shoots in spring. If you fertilise more frequently or during dormant periods, you run the risk of damaging the sensitive orchid roots. The local rainy weather normally ensures a sufficient supply of water. However, keep an eye on the soil moisture, as garden orchids do not tolerate dry soil or excessive moisture. In the event of prolonged drought in summer months with little rainfall, simply water your orchid together with the surrounding plants and ensure sufficient soil drainage to prevent waterlogging.