How to Grow Hardy Orchids

Hardy orchids are terrestrial orchids -- orchids that grow with their roots in the ground. These orchids grow wild in many parts of the United States and can also be cultivated in your garden or home landscape. Unlike their tropical counterparts, hardy orchids grow successfully in temperate and even chilly climates, such as United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) plant hardiness zones 3 through 9. According to the University of Vermont Extension Service, there are over 200 species of hardy orchids that are native to North America. Common hardy orchid species include lady's slippers, fragrant ladies' tresses and rose pogonia. Plant hardy orchids in a location with full sun exposure; they require a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight per day to bloom.

Peat moss
Perlite
Redwood bark
Shovel
Tiller
All-purpose garden fertilizer
Pine straw

Instructions

- 1
  Cover the planting site with a 3-inch layer of equal parts peat moss, perlite and redwood bark. Use a shovel or tiller to incorporate the additions into the top 8 inches of soil. Plant the orchids in the prepared site at the same level that they were growing in their nursery container.
- 2
  Irrigate hardy orchids with 2 cups of room-temperature water each week during the spring and summer months. Pour the water on the surface of the soil around the orchids, not on the plant itself, to reduce the risk of fungal disease.
- 3
  Fertilize hardy orchids very lightly in the early spring. Use an all-purpose garden fertilizer mixed to ¼ of the recommended strength; apply according to the instructions included with the product.
- 4
  Pinch spent blossoms from your hardy orchids after they have finished blooming; this allows the plant to focus its energy on producing a healthy root system.
- 5
  Top the surface of the soil around your hardy orchids with 2 inches of clean pine straw in the early fall to provide them with a bit of extra protection from cold winter temperatures. Remove the layer of pine straw in the early spring, if desired.

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