Today I would like to tell you about a terrestrial orchid of extraordinary beauty: the Billlet, or also known as urn orchid. Its flowers have a certain resemblance to those of Phalaenopsis, that is, they are reminiscent of butterflies, and are pink.
It is by far the easiest to get of all the orchids that grow in soil, and very resistant. Did we discover it?
The Bletilla, as we said, is from the orchid family and native to East Asia. It sprouts from a pseudobulb, that is, from an organ formed by two nodules of leaves during spring. Its beautiful pink flowers appear in summer, and they can stay until fall.
It is an ideal plant to have in the garden, as long as it is protected from direct sunlight as it could damage its leaves, which are elongated with a very ornamental silver-green color. Also, it is quite rustic, being able to withstand light frosts No problem. It will require protection during the harshest winters, being able to have it indoors or in a greenhouse. We will see it sprout as soon as the temperature is above 10 degrees.
The ideal substrate for it will be that composed of black peat and mulch, but if you want to improve it you can add a little sand to the mixture. It must always be kept with a certain degree of humidity, avoiding waterlogging. For this it will be convenient water two to three times a week in summer and one or two the rest of the year, depending on the climate of the area.
Do you want to have it even more beautiful? If so, pay it from time to time using an ecological-organic slow release fertilizer, such as worm humus or manure to get a Bletilla that will attract the attention of all the visitors to your garden.
How many times does it flower in a year?
Hi Clara.
The Bletilla blooms in spring, once.
Regards!