I have several likely spots picked out for plants that will be arriving this spring. I've never grown these plants, so I don't know anything about what to look out for.

Any tips will be appreciated!

Chelle,
I grow Bletilla here in NJ, zone 6b. I planted them years ago smack against my very sunny South facing house wall and they do thrive there. I tried them on several spots in the garden and always lost them. The house wall did the trick for me.
When they lose their foliage in the Fall, I protect them a bit with a pile of leaves and then uncover them again when I see new growth in the Spring.

Thank you very much, Ursula.

What do you think about that same situation except there would be high shade during mid-summer? The plants would probably get plenty of reflected light from a floor length window, but little direct sun during the hottest part of the year. Do they need plenty of direct sun exposure during that time of year?

Chelle, I honestly don't know for sure, but it sounds probably ok.
In my case the South exposure/full sun let's them survive the Winter cold, I think. The house wall stores a bit of heat and that is helpful.

That's what I was hoping to hear, Ursula. I'll try some there, and in another spot as well; just in case the first area is too hot, dry, or .

Thanks, again!

I'm totally new to growing these also, but I've ordered one from Santa Rosa for this spring. What do they need in terms of moisture (both in summer and during winter dormancy)?

I'm not sure I can make space against the house, but I can put it in a sheltered sunny spot next to a big rock and a couple of 20 gallon water garden containers, which should act as a "heat sink."

One of my plants seems to be forming a bud stalk...right now...during frosty weather. Is this common? I thought they only bloomed in the spring.

Interesting!! Must be confused in your neck of the woods?

Jill, I just saw your post from January. How did you make out with your Bletillas?

I up-potted them in spring and am embarrassed to say they have not yet been planted out. My "pot ghetto" is quite sheltered, on a gravel "patio" that moderates temperatures, so they would probably be OK where they are for the moment. One spot I want to try is tucked in front of a couple of "pocket pond" lotus containers in front of the deck -- that bed is where I put a few tropicals as well as tropical-looking plants, so they'd fit in well. As I recall, they like moist conditions, and that's the moist corner of the bed even when I haven't just been topping up the water garden containers.

Hmm, I just found a page suggesting Bletilla can be "grown in large plastic tubs with plentiful drain holes" (http://www.carterandholmes.com...) , so maybe I'll poke some extra holes in a planter pot and tuck it up against those water garden pots instead of putting my little plant straight into the ground. A pile of mulch around and over its pot wouldn't hurt, either. Fingers crossed!

Chelle, I wonder if you could bring your plant inside for a while to enjoy its bloom? Maybe move it to a cool garage to re-acclimate afterward? I think they don't love having their roots disturbed, so you'd need to be careful... might be better just to leave it alone & see what happens!

This one is still in a container, too, Jill. The chipmunks here seem to enjoy digging them out.

Jill, looking forwards to see blooming- pics next Spring!

me too! thanks