Dactylorhiza maculata

Also known as: The Spotted Dactylorhiza or Orchis tetragona Orchis maculata var. pumila Orchis maculata var. sacciferoides Orchis maculata f. sacciferoides Orchis maculata var. sandomiriensis Orchis maculata f. subintegriflora Orchis maculata ssp. transsilvanica Orchis ochrantha Orchis maculata f. traunsteineriifolius Orchis transsilvanica Orchis maculata var. minor Orchis maculata f. wettsteinii Orchis obtusifolia Orchis maculata var. transsilvanica Orchis maculata var. angustifolia Orchis maculata f. depressa Orchis maculata var. comosa Orchis maculata f. carpatica Orchis maculata var. carnea Orchis maculata var. candidissima Orchis maculata lusus calvellii Orchis maculata f. brevicalcarata Orchis maculata f. bracteosa Orchis maculata f. oblongifolia Orchis maculata ssp. baborica Orchis maculata ssp. ericetorum Orchis maculata var. angustata Orchis maculata var. alpina Orchis maculata var. albicans Orchis macedonica Orchis biermannii Orchis calvellii Orchis candidissima Orchis ericetorum Orchis fuchsii ssp. rhoumensis Orchis maculata var. biermannii Orchis maculata var. lusitanica Orchis maculata var. paludosa Orchis maculata f. ovalifolia Orchis maculata var. olgae Orchis maculata var. ochrantha Orchis maculata f. obtusifolia Orchis maculata f. obscura Orchis basilica Orchis maculata var. montana Orchis maculata f. media Orchis maculata var. elodes Orchis maculata var. macrobracteata Orchis maculata ssp. elodes Orchis maculata var. longibracteata Orchis maculata f. leucantha Orchis maculata f. lancifolia Orchis maculata var. kolaensis Orchis maculata var. hunyadensis Orchis maculata var. gruenii Orchis maculata var. foliis-immaculatis Orchis maculata f. falcata Orchis maculata var. praecox Orchis maculata f. macroglossa Orchis solida Orchis maculata var. vexillum Orchis maculata ssp. rhoumensis Orchis maculata var. elabiata Orchis ochrantha var. wettsteinii Orchis maculata var. vespertilio Orchis basilica ssp. maculata Orchis maculata var. oreophila Orchis maculata f. ericetorum Dactylorhiza savogiensis f. pyrenaica Dactylorhiza maculata ssp. rhoumensis Dactylorhiza montellii Dactylorchis maculata var. lineata Dactylorhiza maculata f. arduennensis Dactylorchis maculata var. ovalifolia Dactylorchis maculata var. laxiflora Dactylorhiza maculata ssp. caramulensis Dactylorchis maculata var. ibericoides Dactylorchis maculata var. spathulata Dactylorhiza maculata ssp. battandieri Dactylorchis maculata var. terschellingensis Dactylorhiza maculata ssp. helodes Dactylorhiza maculata var. elodes Dactylorchis maculata var. traunsteineriifolius Dactylorhiza maculata var. transsilvanica Dactylorhiza maculata ssp. podesta Dactylorchis maculata var. grandiflora Dactylorchis maculata var. densiflora Dactylorchis maculata var. concolor Dactylorchis maculata var. compacta Dactylorhiza fuchsii ssp. rhoumensis Dactylorchis maculata var. candidissima Dactylorchis maculata ssp. rhoumensis Dactylorchis maculata var. immaculata Dactylorhiza maculata var. praecox Dactylorhiza maculata var. wettsteinii Dactylorhiza kolaensis Dactylorhiza maculata var. hunyadensis Dactylorhiza maculata ssp. transsilvanica Dactylorhiza maculata var. submacrostachys Dactylorhiza maculata var. rhoumenis Dactylorhiza maculata var. traunsteineriifolius Dactylorhiza maculata var. oreophila Dactylorhiza battandieri Dactylorchis maculata var. vulgaris Dactylorchis maculata var. vexillum Dactylorhiza maculata var. nummularia Dactylorchis maculata var. vespertilio Dactylorhiza ericetorum Dactylorhiza maculata var. sacciferoides Dactylorhiza maculata lusus carnea Dactylorchis maculata ssp. arduennensis Dactylorhiza maculata f. brevicalcarata Dactylorhiza maculata var. dalarnensis Dactylorhiza maculata var. averyanovii Dactylorhiza maculata ssp. averyanovii Dactylorhiza transsilvanica Dactylorhiza maculata ssp. austriaca Dactylorchis maculata var. ericetorum Dactylorchis maculata var. hunyadensis Dactylorchis maculata ssp. islandica Dactylorhiza maculata var. arduennensis Dactylorhiza maculata ssp. deflexa Dactylorchis maculata ssp. montellii Dactylorhiza maculata var. pseudoelata Dactylorhiza maculata var. podesta Dactylorhiza maculata var. olgae Dactylorhiza maculata ssp. kolaensis Dactylorhiza maculata f. angustiflora Dactylorchis maculata ssp. ericetorum Dactylorhiza islandica Dactylorhiza maculata ssp. pyrenaica Dactylorchis maculata var. angustiflora Dactylorhiza maculata var. kolaensis Dactylorchis elodes Dactylorhiza maculata lusus albicans Dactylorhiza maculata ssp. savogiensis Dactylorhiza maculata ssp. arduennensis Dactylorhiza elodes Dactylorhiza maculata ssp. islandica Orchis danguyana Dactylorhiza maculata ssp. elodes Dactylorhiza maculata ssp. ericetorum Dactylorhiza savogiensis Dactylorhiza caramulensis Orchis elodes Dactylorhiza maculata ssp. maculata Orchis nemorosa in the subfamily: Orchidoideae

General Information

The Spotted Dactylorhiza is a small to large cold to cool growing terrestrial orchid belonging to the sub family Orchidoideae.

Care Notes

These orchids grow on the forest floor so are used to rich soil containing plenty of organic matter that is always moist (but not always wet), and prefer constant conditions in terms of humidity, temperature and water supply. They may not be as forgiving as epiphytes in regards to sudden changes in growing conditions so it is wise to ease them into new conditions over a the space of a few days, and repot as infrequently as possible.

Keep an eye on the plants condition regularly as they can decline suddenly if the conditions are not just right. It is more important to keep water supply constant rather than frequent - overwatering often causes rot which can quickly set in, especially in warmer conditions.

These can be grown in shady, moist areas in the garden, supplied they have protection from abrupt changes caused by the elements, e.g. dry winds, frost etc. Being grown around companion plants such as ferns and bromeliads will help build and retain the humidity they require throughout the year.

Potting

These plants can be sensitive to repotting though should not require repotting regularly. Repotting should be done when the mix has broken down to the point that it doesn't absorb water or holds onto water for far too long, usually the plant shows a decline in growth as well.

The mix should be free draining, with a blend of 30% inorganic ingredients such as coarse sand, gravel or perlite, mixed in with about 70% organic ingredients such as peat, leaf litter or decomposed bark. Avoid commercial potting mixes as they can vary wildly and may contain "wetting agents" that can hold onto water for loo long, causing rotting and stunted growth.