How to Grow Terrestrial Orchids

Terrestrial orchids grow in the ground in the garden. They prefer woodland shade, and bloom with delicate flowers. Grow terrestrial orchids in USDA zones 4 to 8.

Things You'll Need

• Bypass Pruners
• Compost Makers
• Fertilizers
• Garden Spades
• Garden Trowels
• Mulch
• Plants

Instructions

Choosing Terrestrial Orchids

1. Buy terrestrial orchids in 4-inch to 1-gallon containers or as a tuber (a swollen piece of root).

2. Look for plants at nurseries and mail-order businesses in spring and summer, and tubers in fall.

3. Choose healthy-looking plants with signs of new growth in leaves and flower buds.

Planting Terrestrial Orchids

1. Choose a site in the shade of a woodland garden with well-drained soil that stays moist throughout the year.

2. Dig holes for the plants no deeper than they were growing in the containers. Space the plants 9 to 12 inches apart.

3. Add a light application of organic fertilizer to the planting hole before you set the plants in.

4. Mulch around but not on top of the plants with 3 inches of organic compost.

5. Water well until soil is completely moist.

Caring for Terrestrial Orchids

1. Remove old foliage in late fall, using bypass pruners to cut off the old stems.

2. Mulch around but not on top of the plants with 3 inches of organic compost in early spring.

3. Water well weekly until soil is completely moist in summers with no rainfall.