My Bletillia striata (both normal and alba forms) are both sending up new growth and winter is just getting started. They are in pots and are in my Garage to keep them from getting too cold. Should I bring them inside and let them think it is spring? leave them in the cool/cold garage with little light to make them hold off growth as much as possible??? What do y'all think?

How cold is your garage? If temperatures are below 50F on average then they shouldn't grow. I wouldn't bring them in yet. One question, when did they go truly dormant (when did they fully defoliate)? Here in Japan they are just losing their leaves and they'll start growing again in late March. In Florida I've had a few try to grow in mid-January before. I kept them in shade and as cool as possible which seemed to slow them down. I don't know your location (the y'all makes me think south), but if you are in USDA zone 6 or higher, I would suggest you grow them in the ground so you avoid such troubles. These don't make good inside plants.

Tom

Thanks Tom. Actually I just moved up here from Houston (hence the Y'all) I am in the suburbs of Cincinnati Ohio which is borderline between zone 5b and 6a. I brought these beauties up here with me from Houston so this whole idea of having them in pots and bringing them in for winter is new to me and them. The garage should stay in the upper 30's low 40's throughout the winter but the strange weather we have had this fall has the plants all confused. (example. Thursday night we had a low of 10F today it is nearly 60F. )

With temperature extremes like that, I can imagine they would get confused. Here in Japan we don't experience such extremes due to the maratime climate we enjoy. To wit, the ocean and seas surrounding us moderate cold air masses that come off Asia periodically. They hit here but with much less punch, hence temperatures don't go through the crazing yo-yo swings of a continental climate. In the end I think consistency in temperature is more important than average temperature to keep plants in an appropriate dormant state. Even in Florida we had incredible temperatures swings, and I think that's why my plants would sometimes initiate growth too early.

While this species is found in Japan, most plants in cultivation are of Chinese origin. Therefore, it is likely that your plants are used to the wild swings of a continental climate. My advise remains the same: try to keep them dormant as long as possible, but bring them in if they start to bolt. To grow well they really need a very bright light situation (here in hot Kyushu they grow best in full sun), so I can't imagine them as being suitable for house culture. Perhaps directly under artifical lighting would be OK, but I have no experience with this. I'd say plant them out next year if you can!

Best of luck,

Tom

The area around Cincy appears to vary widely in zone. I know someone in the area who is zone 7 (I think) - thanks to location and a bit of added microcliming with walls and trellises etc. - and has bletilla in the ground. You *might* be able to find a sheltered sunny spot for planting them out.

the weather here in SW Ohio is normally like this....there is no normal....60's yesterday and it may snow tonight.

Thanks for the advice... I am new to the area and really dont know how this whole cold weather thing goes. I'll keep them in a pot this year and consider moving them into the ground next year when we get a house (we are in a townhome while we decide what area of town we want to live in).

Park Bear and SW Ohio Jon, any luck with Bletillas in the ground here? How do you deal with this wacky weather?

D

Hi
I live in Ont, Canada with very cold winters and mine are planted in the ground.
I cover them with mulch.

Thanks for the advice... I am new to the area and really dont know how this whole cold weather thing goes. I'll keep them in a pot this year and consider moving them into the ground next year when we get a house (we are in a townhome while we decide what area of town we want to live in).

Park Bear and SW Ohio Jon, any luck with Bletillas in the ground here? How do you deal with this wacky weather?

D

I don't have any experience with Bletillas. Jon might, he has a larger collection of plants than I do.

Another consideration is that potted plants experience greater temperature fluctuations than those in the ground, especially if they are in the sunshine. Just another reason to put 'em in the ground!