Orchid limodorum abortivum, violet birdsnest orchid, rhizome

Violet birdsnest orchid produces colorful and beautiful flowers, which are perfect as a potted plant decorating in your house. or in a partial shade spot in your garden, or open woodland of evergreen oak, pine and chestnut on alkaline soil. It can bloom well indoors as long as you provide plenty of light and water.

You will be receiving rhizomes that were divided last year after flowering they will grow for one year underground and flower the year after. You will also receive a small amount of soil containing a mycoheterotrophic fungi which is necessary for orchids to thrive.

Limodorum abortivum, also known as Violet Limodore or Violet bird's-nest orchid, is a species of myco-heterotrophic, achlorophyllous orchid and is native to mainland Europe, western Asia and the Mediterranean area.

It is a rhizomatous herbaceous plant growing to 85 cm, with an inflorescence of 10-20 violet flowers produced from April to June. The leaves are reduced to scales and, although Limodorum contains photosynthetic pigments, these are insufficient to support the nutrition of the adult plant which is believed to rely entirely on a mycoheterotrophic or parasitic relationship with fungi, primarily of the family Russulaceae. Seeds are among the largest produced by orchids and seedlings develop very slowly, remaining entirely below ground for 8–10 years before flowering.

Typical Mediterranean habitat is open woodland of evergreen oak, pine and chestnut on alkaline soil from sea level to 1,300 metres.

You can propagate violet birdsnest orchid by division or by cuttings. Propagation by division: using an violet birdsnest orchid with more stems is a better option for the division. You should do this after blooming. When dividing the plant, dig it up carefully with its roots intact, and cut the roots into several clusters from the base. Remember to use clean tools and disinfect the wounds with a fungicide. Then plant your divided clusters in containers and keep them in a cool place. While the new roots are growing, spray them with plenty of water to prevent from drying out.
Propagate by cuttings before flowering. Choose a healthy, thick stem, remove the leaves, and cut it into small 2-node pieces. Insert the bottom directly into substrate. Keep the substrate moist, and they will root and sprout in about 2-3 months. You can also propagate by cuttings by laying the entire stem on top of moist substrate, and cutting it into pieces after it roots and sprouts. Transplant those rooted cuttings into pots for further growth. A third way to propagate by cutting is possible during weather with high temperatures, when the stems develop roots, and you can cut them off and plant them.