Hab. rhodocheila culture

[Marengo]

Hello! I bought a Hab, rhodocheila last October in bloom. I let it rest last winter, and thought it had died, but gave it a little water occasionally a few moths ago, and it sent up two new growths. Does anyone have one of these and what is the culture for them? What sort of fertilizer, if any? The blooms were orange and very different from anything else I have. Am very curious to know how to treat it, now...

[Bayard]

Marego - I grow mine in clay pots with Promix (peat based soilless mix). They get fertilized most every watering at 1/4 strength. I water when the mix starts to dry (turns pale on top). They seem to be able to take quite a bit of light - as much as my Cattleyas. Otherwise, they get leggy and tend to fall over. The red form blooms latest for me. This year I got the yellow form. I hope to post when it flowers...

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Habenaria rhodocheila grows in between the crevices of limestone cliff faces in the wild. These limestone formations are usually pretty moist during the warmer months and can have moss growing on them.

There used to be a video that showed how they really grow in the wild. It has long since been taken down. So it's now extremely difficult to verify what I said as being true.

I'm really not surprised that an inorganic mix does well for them.

If they are "leggy" and want to tip over, what I said about them growing on cliff faces is the reason why.

They start growth in the spring. They die back in the fall. They bloom during the late summer months to early fall. They remain dormant in the winter months, and still need the occasional moisture during this time.

These form root tubers (tuberoids).

Indirect moderate bright light is adequate.

Intermediate to warm. (55 F - 95 F)

Moderate humidity. (60% - 80% is sufficient)