Habenaria radiata

**Lambert** · August 18th, 2009, 10:14 AM

Great job growing it. Beautiful blooms.

It was doing good for me as well until my cat ate it ...

**zainal abidin** · August 19th, 2009, 06:39 AM

One of the beautiful Hibenaria I like it, thanks for sharing.

**f_fabrizio** · August 20th, 2009, 04:36 AM

Hi,

sorry for my late reply, problems with internet connection.
thanks to all, seems that it is opening the second bloom, will post a photo in case i will be able to shoot both opened.

Halloamey, I found habenaria in general easy to grow and bloom and radiata and medusae easier.
this one is in a pot, substratum is 40-50% peat + 10-20% fine bark + perlite, seramis or pomice (inorganic), full sun since around 11, lot of light rest of the day.
When in active grow lot of water (someone suggests to let plants in a tray with water but I prefer to water them more often) I add some ferilizer once a month.
In autumn it will loose leaves and rest as a tuber in winter, during this perdiod it needs a dry and cold rest (even around 0 C but i store them with my cold dendros so not under 8-10 C) .
During dormancy you have to spray the pot sometime just to be shure that the tuber will not dry out or you can take it out from the pot and store it cold and dry, you could use a plastic bag with some dry sphagnum moss (not total dry) and then close the bag.
I use both of the system habenaria are left in the pot mediterranean orchids are placed in a bag and both is working well.
With bag you have more work and better control on humidity it depends on you.
In spring just pot in a new substratum, place it in full ligth, spray it more often but still be carefull, you must not add too much water, and when it start growing...plenty of water and light.

If you like habenarias for me medusae is the easiest then radiata.

regards Fabrizio