habenaria under lights?

[nzadro]

hello,

has anyone had success growing habenaria under lights? I am inlove with habenaria pegasus and habenaria medusae, but unsure if I can provide adequate light to flower and be happy orchids.

my current apartment is bright with southeastern windows, so a good several hours of direct sunlight from noon onwards. (I grow my orchids in windowsills or terrariums).

thanks,
natalie

[Ray]

You may find it necessary to add some supplemental lighting, but sure they can be grown that way.

I have grown Habenaria rhodocheila under lights using sphagnum as a medium, but I have been told that sphagnum with a bit of peat moss is good.

[Roberta]

I grow Hab. medusa in the greenhouse not under lights, but lighting is pretty low...not much more than for Phalaenopsis, and it grows very well. I haven't grown pegasus so can't speak to that one, Hab. rhodocheila grows under the same conditions as medusa and also blooms nicely. Since these are dormant during the dark days of winter, emerge when day length is getting respectable (like March-April for me) you may not even need supplemental lighting. One thing that I have learned (the hard way)... you'll hear advice about "keep dry during dormancy, don't water until you see growth". I have found that to be a good way to kill them... I water very lightly (a bit every week or two) during the winter, and start watering more in the spring when they should be waking up... it seems to work. Once growth appears they will need to be watered more, but for me they do seem to need some to get the process going.

[Ray]

Good point, Roberta.

Habenarias don’t have a pseudobulbs or thick leaves to store water, so should be kelp evenly moist when active, ant still damp when dormant - just no fertilizer then.

[nzadro]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I grow Hab. medusa in the greenhouse not under lights, but lighting is pretty low...not much more than for Phalaenopsis, and it grows very well. I haven't grown pegasus so can't speak to that one, Hab. rhodocheila grows under the same conditions as medusa and also blooms nicely. Since these are dormant during the dark days of winter, emerge when day length is getting respectable (like March-April for me) you may not even need supplemental lighting. One thing that I have learned (the hard way)... you'll hear advice about "keep dry during dormancy, don't water until you see growth". I have found that to be a good way to kill them... I water very lightly (a bit every week or two) during the winter, and start watering more in the spring when they should be waking up... it seems to work. Once growth appears they will need to be watered more, but for me they do seem to need some to get the process going.

That gives me hope, but I will add I am a windowsill grower. I am sure my light is much more limited even if it is a good deal of direct light in the afternoon. My phals and paphs grow well, new leaves, happily, and I can get them to bloom. But I worry it may still not be enough? I wish I had the conditions of a greenhouse!!!! Someday, once I leave the city...

Originally Posted by Ray

Good point, Roberta.

Habenarias don’t have a pseudobulbs or thick leaves to store water, so should be kelp evenly moist when active, ant still damp when dormant - just no fertilizer then.

Thank you, Ray!!