AARRGGHH!! Egret Orchids!

[aesir22]

Hi all,
I am relatively new to growing orchids. A patient at work bought me a gift for helping her with her medication. I was sat with her for about half an hour, and being a little old lady she gave me her life story and asked me mine. I said I liked gardening, she asked what I grew, etc etc etc.

She got some little egret orchid bulbs for me. There are four of them with little roots poking out of the bottom. These are far beyond my capabilities I am sure! I have put them in an orchid mix with peat in it, watered them thoroughly and put them outside in the little plastic greenhouse as the worst of the weather seems to have passed.

I know they like to stay wet, but not stagnant, and that they need to dry off in their dormant phase, but is there anything else I can do to give them a chance?

Thanks all

Dan

[Becky15349]

I feel like I heard of the egret orchid somewhere, but I can't remember...anyways, I found this site that might be helpful:

The White Egret Orchid, a rare Japanese orchid, for sale exclusively from Thompson and Morgan | Water Gardener Magazine.com

The proper name of the plant is Habenaria radiata.

If it grows in swampy areas, that means it should stay evenly moist all the time and not be allowed to dry out.

The website says: White Egret Orchids need protection from scorching heat and masses of water to simulate Asia’s monsoon season. So water them daily with rainwater throughout the spring and summer. Despite their love of water, the soil must be free-draining as they cannot cope with stagnant water. Eventually a large showy colony will be established.

Hope that helps!

~Becky

[nenella]

I had never heard or seen it before! It really does look like an egret! WOW superb photo on that link Thanks Becky
Also Thank you Dan for asking!

[WhiteRabbit]

Thats really sweet!

omg - thats a beautiful bloom! I wonder if I can grow it lol

[angelann79]

That was so nice of her to get those for you. They are so beautiful and unique. If you get them to bloom, please pots pictures of them. Good luck to you!

[travelledguy]

You are going to have to give up your day job

[tuvoc]

These are usually sold as outdoor garden plants. I've grown them off and on, and am trying them again this year. If you can, plant them in a partly shaded spot that stays fairly moist, outside. They will probably bloom this year, but overwintering is not always reliable. Good luck, and keep us posted.

Kim

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I haven't grown the Egret Orchid before, but I've grown Habenaria medusa. They grow in a similar habitat.

I may not have been successful with Habenaria medusa, but at least I learned from the mistake.

Try this...

Grow in a woodland type potting soil and add some peat moss (SuperSphag might work for this). If you need to lighten the mix up, try adding some perlite, pumice, or vermiculite.

Keep evenly moist in growing season (spring, summer), allowing a short drying out period between waterings. If growing stops when it should be growing, I recommend not watering and checking the tuber for any problems without exposing the roots to air. As soon as the leaves die back, dig the tuber up and inspect for any infections or damage. If you have any kind of fungicide or bactericides it is recommended to use them as a preventative measure. Repot after you're done and do not water until you start seeing new growth.

There is only one eye on the tuber (the tuber is shaped like a testicle). You must be careful to make sure you repot with the eye of the plant facing the surface of the soil. I don't recommend planting it too deep into the pot. I recommend a pot that is only a little bit bigger than the tuber itself. A pot that's twice the height of the tuber is recommended as well.