Kathy- > Bletilla is apparently one of the few orchid species that can be germinated in damp sphagnum >peat moss but my one attempt at this was unsuccessful. In the wild orchids almost certainly can and do grow in or on things other than sphagnum, it just approximates conditions that orchids seem to need. Other media should also work-- I also have tried lo-tech methods of growing Bletilla (striata), sowing the seed on flats of rhododendron seedlings-the coldframe bottom is covered with older bark as a moisture reservoir, sown in the fall as soon as the seedpods appeared mature-with no success. Ferns germinate freely in the coldframe the flats of rhododendron seedlings are in, so the orchids seemed possible. I've also tried a pot of peat moss and perlite, covered with a plastic bag as I would rhododendron seeds, under flourescent lights inside, also with no success. Note that the ferns are western sword fern, and occasionally bracken fern. Dwarf maidenhair fern so far has refused to co-operate in a similiar manner. I've considered trying an agar media as for embryo culture of lily seed, (which I have on hand) but so far haven't tried it. I'd expect seedlings grown this way to be relatively slow to mature, but have no experience. This is finicky work for someone as fumble-fingered as I am, but not really hard. Given the relatively short lifespan of many orchid seeds, the small size and the ease of contamination, perhaps it might be best to send seed directly to anyone who is ambitious enough to try. I would be interested in hearing from anyone who successfully grows this (pseudo)bulb from seed--continuing to harvest from the wild really isn't a satisfactory option to some people. Ken Z7 western Oregon