Habineria: Where are we going wrong?

[David1985]

Hi all,

My mother is growing an Habaneria medusae from its bulb (a much larger bulb than she started with!) and everything was going well. She got two leaves, and all was well, but about a month ago one leaf got brown spots on it, went limp, then fell off. Now the other leaf is doing the same.

She was not spraying it before the first leaf fell off, then started spraying once it did. Now the other one is doing the same. The bulb is firm and moist; no roots to speak of (assuming it's supposed to have them) and it's in the original growing medium. It's in a east-northeast facing window and it's been a hot and humid summer. Direct sun is gone by 11 am; it was originally in the sun, but was moved behind another one in case it was getting too much.

Any pointers?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

What's the "original growing medium". Does it happen to be sphagnum moss? I don't recommend growing any Habenarias in straight up sphagnum moss.

Habenarias grow tubers from new root stock.

No new roots, no new tubers. No new tubers = quite possibly 1 less Habenaria medusae.


This article says it best:

http://culturesheet.org/orchidaceae:habenaria:medusa

[David1985]

The growing medium is perlite and bark.

It's a new tuber because we found the dried-up remains of the old tuber after the last flowers fell off. It's about the size of a thumb.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Then I recommend saving it and keeping an eye on whether it starts shriveling or not.

It's dormant.

[David1985]

It's going soft now; is that tolerable or a bad sign?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

No! That's bad!

How soft?

Are you sure this is a new tuber or is it the one where the leaves rotted off of?

[David1985]

It's the one the leaves rotted off.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Hate to tell you, but that's very bad.

It's not going to make it.

I suggest reading the article I posted a link to.

[David1985]

We've read it before; my mother didn't find it illuminating in this case. Should there be more watering or less? And why the sudden change in behaviour?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

What are the numerical values for the temperature (please note the night and day temperatures please - not to mention the seasonal temperatures) and humidity?

What's the watering regimen?

Were the leaves misted or not? If so, how often was it done?

What kind of pot did you use? Plastic? Terra cotta?

Did you guys know that this was a terrestrial orchid and not an epiphytical one?

Did you know that this plant goes deciduous and becomes dormant?

I need to know what you guys know in order to help you.


Habenaria form "root tubers" or more correctly termed tuberous roots. So yes, this plant does make roots.

The growth cycle goes like this:

1. Dormant tuberous root.

2. Dormant tuberous root grows a shoot.

3. Shoot turns into leaves and grows more leaves.

4. After the shoot gets to be a certain size, roots grow out.

5. Once the shoot matures, it may or may not throw out an inflorescence.

6. Regardless of whether or not the plant throws out an inflorescence, each root will form a tuberous growth.

7. When the temperatures cool down, the shoot starts to slowly die back, while the tuberous roots reach the size they will become during dormancy.

8. Shoot completely dies off, while the old tuberous root dies off as well.

9. New tuberous roots are left behind and are dormant.


And the cycle continues.