Alan has had further success with germinating Ophrys apifera with a mix of soil and cardboard inoculated with soil from a number of sites where Ophrys apifera grow.
Ophrys apifera germination
The image attached is his mother tub, however the exciting news is there also appears to be germination of Ophrys lutea in the sister trial using the same soil mix and inoculant. I have taken a number of samples and we are trialing to see if other species of Ophrys germinate with the sub cultured trials. I have sown Ophrys tenthredinifera and Ophrys sphegodes plus further apifera onto the new cultures. I will post images as these trials and update on any news six weeks and counting....
Ophrys lutea germination