I recently ordered a
Mimulus cardinalis and a
Epipactis gigantea from a mail order nursery in Washington. I have a couple questions for anyone that has experience with these species.
Mimulus cardinalis (Scarlet Monkey Flower)
I received the plant just like this, with numerous green shoots coming up. This isn't what I expected. Does this species spread by rhizomes? And is it winter deciduous or something, just now leafing out for Spring? I have only seen these guys growing with their roots completely submerged in water, so I'm not sure how wet I need to keep the soil.
Epipactis gigantea (Stream Orchid)
Well I'm really excited about this one. I have heard that it takes many years before they flower, so I wanted to get one ASAP. It came as a small bare root with a single green shoot coming up already. I'm going to plant it in a nice sized pot with just some regular potting soil. What I am not sure about is how much to water it throughout the year. I know they go dormant during the dry summers, so should I completely stop watering it at some point and allow it to do its thing?
