Bulbs: Dactylorhiza maculata; someone has experience with it ?, 1 by bonitin

bonitin wrote:
I bought two Dactylorhiza maculata last year from a nursery. They were in the department of the shadow-lovers, were potted up and had flower buds and beautiful spotted leaves.

I am a bit confused by the information I read from different sources; in PF it states that they need constantly damp soil, this correspond with the info in my book of wildflowers of Britain and Europe. But then I have another wildflower book that says it grows in dry conditions; still another source; a botany book says very damp in the growing season, dry in winter. So I am puzzled what is the best now.

I had followed the info I found in the PF and planted them at the border of my pond where its is constantly damp and sometimes soaked. They are in a buried clay pot with special soil preparation, that is on the acidic side.

This spring they came up fine, unfortunately, one of them has been stepped on by a visiting friend who didn't watch out (grrr....!), but the other is ok and even made a side shoot. Alas no sign of flower buds, and I think it's too late now to still expect them for this year. What could I be doing wrong ?

Picture of last year;