MOST IMPORTANT SPECIFIC CULTIVATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR EPIPACTIS

Temperature ; Most species and hybrids are frost resistant and withstand temperatures between minus 15 and plus 35 °C .Some hybrids need winter protection during severe frost, if one of the parents is of Mediterranean origin .

Light ; Very tolerant, mostly full sunlight , no protection at noontime required . Shade is possible as well, but produces less flowers .

Humidity ; Humid to wet conditions when growing and even completely submerged in cold rest period .Soil may not be too wet in full summer , risk of anaerobic soils.

Compost ; Very tolerant , as long as pH. Is neutral , between 5.5 and 7 . Providing good drainage , one can use many media such as pumice gravel, coarse sand , loam and clay (max 5 %) , peat, fen soil , sphagnum , coco peat, oyster shells . Organics preferable less than 20 % .

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 poor . Good oxygen rich water is essential .

Fertiliser ; Epipactis is an easy strong growing orchid genus , that needs more fertiliser as other species , so one may use a good quality chemical fertiliser in growing phase , dissolved in the water as a surplus . As basic fertiliser we use slow release grains once a year , 10 grains per mature plant in spring when shoots break through the surface .

Protection ; These are very strong plants ,rarely aphides can cause some trouble if growing conditions are not well balanced .Small growths and yellow leaves sometimes show up when there is something wrong with soil pH or nutrient availability .