Cypripedium:

On receipt, plant the seedlings in a plastic tray + - 60 cm long x 30 cm wide x 18 cm high.
Ensure there are drainage holes in the base of the tray. Cover the holes with shade netting to stop
Put in a layer of pumice or seramis, 10 cm deep, then the seedlings and then fill the remaining 6 cm
with pumice/seramis.
Water the plants carefully, ensuring the water runs out of the bottom of the tray.
Water occasionally so that the compost remains moist.
Leave them for 2 full years in the same compost. After 2 years, transplant into a compost which contains
70% inorganic and 30% organic material. Grow on for another 2 years.
In the autumn of the 4th year when the leaves have died down, transplant them into a mixture for
flowering cypripediums. They can be potted singly into deep pots or in groups in large containers or in beds.
Place a layer of drainage material in the bottom of the containers to avoid waterlogging and root rot.
Then add the compost which should consist of: 50% pure pumice, 25% fibrous loam, 25% horticultural grit,
perlite or seramis.
For lime loving plants, add 10% oyster shell.
For acid loving plants, add 10% pine needles.

IMPORTANT

Never expose cypripediums to full sun (between 10:00 to 16:00 hours) but place them where they receive
early morning or late afternoon sun. Never give fertilizer. In the winter keep the plants outside,
Cypripediums need frost.

Dactylorhiza and Epipactis:

They can be potted singly into deep pots or in groups in large containers or in beds.
Place a layer of drainage material in the bottom of the containers to avoid waterlogging and root rot.
Then add the compost which should consist of: 50% pure pumice, 25% fibrous loam, 25% horticultural grit,
perlite or seramis.
For lime loving plants, add 10% oyster shell.
For acid loving plants, add 10% pine needles.
Water occasionally so that the compost remains moist.

Ophrys, Orchis, Serapias and Other species:

They can be potted singly into deep pots or in groups in large containers or in beds.
Place a layer of drainage material in the bottom of the containers to avoid waterlogging and root rot.
Then add the compost which should consist of: 70% pure pumice, 10% fibrous loam, 10% horticultural grit,
and 10% organic compost.
For lime loving plants, add 10% oyster shell.
For acid loving plants, add 10% pine needles.
This plants growing in dry calcareous area and need much sun.
During vegetative period they like slightly moist conditions but with exellent drainage.
In rest period they need dry condition to prevent rot.

Goodyera:
They can be potted singly into deep pots or in groups in large containers or in beds.
Place a layer of drainage material in the bottom of the containers to avoid waterlogging and root rot.
Then add the compost which should consist of: 40% pure pumice, 20% fibrous loam, 20% horticultural grit,
perlite or seramis and 20% pine needles.
Water occasionally so that the compost remains moist.