MOST IMPORTANT SPECIFIC CULTIVATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR ORCHIS AND DACTYLORHIZA

Temperature ; Most native species are frost resistant and withstand temperatures between minus 15 and plus 35 °C . They especially like important differences between day- and night temperature . 

Light ; Mostly full sunlight , no protection at noontime required .    

Humidity ; Depending on the species , mostly humid in growing phase . Most Dactylorhiza ‘s withstands  wet conditions when growing and even completely submerged in wintertime. Late and midsummer they like soils to drie out .

Compost ; For garden soils , sandy, loamy or clay-soils , with an open organic cover (peat, leaves, moss ) and poor of organics beneath  . Pot culture , in order to keep an open well drained mix it is better to use pumice- and or quartz gravel with organic poor loam or structured clay, but no more than 5 % .

Repotting ; Yearly in autumn, winter and spring when still dormant , or in late spring when growths have reached maturity .

Water quality ; Rainwater is advisable , otherwise good quality tap water chlorine less .

Fertiliser ; Only for pot plants , slow release fertiliser , once a year when growths have reached maturity . 2 to 5 grains per plant .                                

Protection ; Good air movement and open growing conditions , strong light and heavy temperature drops at night are essential . Sometimes snails and aphids need to be controlled . A systemic fungicide can be applied just before leaves disappear for winter rest, this can avoid losses during warm rainy winters .