Bletilla striata also called as The Striped Bletilla, Hyacinth Orchid or Chinese Ground Orchid
Synonyms:
Bletilla elegantula
Bletia gebina
Bletia hyacinthina
Bletia hyacinthina var. gebina
Bletia striata
Bletilla hyacintha
Bletilla striata f. gebina
Bletilla striata var. albomarginata
Bletilla striata var. gebina
Calanthe gebina
Coelogyne elegantula
Cymbidium hyacinthinum
Cymbidium striatum
Epidendrum striatum
Epidendrum tuberosum
Gyas humilis
Jimensia striatum
Limodorum hyacinthinum
Limodorum striatum
Polytoma inodora
Sobralia bletioides
It is a species of the genus Bletilla. This species was described by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach in 1878.
Bletilla striata is native to Japan, Korea, Myanmar (Burma), and China (Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Zhejiang). It grows in evergreen broad leaved forests, coniferous forests, grassy places and crevices at elevations of 100 to 3200 meters.
It is a small to medium sized, cool to cold growing terrestrial.
Bletilla striata blooms with fragrant flowers that open in succession in the spring. The flowers are 2.5 to 5.5 cm in diameter.
These plants usually flower the first year, but after that they must have grown well in order to give flowering shoots again.
Light:
Bletilla striata need to receive sunlight for most of the day if they are to flower well and do best in semi shade avoiding the hot afternoon sun.
Temperature:
Bletilla striata will tolerate the typical temperatures from -2 to 44°C providing they are given protection from frosts in winter. Ideally they should be grown in a shade-house or protected veranda position where they are protected from frosts and direct summer sun.
Humidity:
Maintaining high humidity is not as important with this orchid as other orchid species and misting sprays are generally not required except on extremely hot days with temperatures greater than 42°C.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Bletilla striata need a well draining humus rich potting mix containing loam and leaf mulch and some fertilizer should be used that should last for 3 to 4 years to avoid the need for repotting. A normal shape 250mm diameter nursery pot is best. The bulbs should be placed about 5 to 10 cm below the surface of the potting mix. Avoid breaking roots when repotting.
Bletilla striata should be repotted in early autumn soon after the leaves have died back at the end of May. Do not delay repotting as the pseudobulbs shoot below the surface in early winter and the new shoots are easily broken during repotting. They do not like being disturbed and may not flower well for the first year after repotting. They should only be repotted after they have filled the pot or the potting mix needs replacing.
Watering:
Chinese Ground Orchid require regular watering during the growing period. Once the leaves have died down in autumn they should not be watered for the next 4-6 weeks and allowed to rest dry to avoid rotting the bulbs.
Fertilizer:
The plants require frequent fertilizing every 2 to 3 weeks during their active growing period. A high N fertilizer is recommended in spring and early summer but switch to a high phosphorus and potassium fertilizer in late summer and early autumn. Stop fertilizing in late autumn.
Rest period:
Bletilla striata needs a clearly rest period in winter with lower temperature. Stop fertilization in late autumn and reduce watering. When the new leaves have appeared in late winter watering can be resumed but only sparingly for the first few weeks as roots do not develop until about 4 weeks after the shoots appear.