Chaubardia heteroclita/Huntleya heteroclita

[Shirley]

Does anyone have experience in growing these? I understand that they are difficult and my baby plant seems to be struggling. Should I try sphag 'n' bag??

[Dorothy]

What is wrong with your plant? Do you have a photo of it?
Have you check the root system and how healthy is it?
What is it potted in? When is the last time you repotted it?
What conditions are you growing it under?
How often do you water and fertilize it and with what and how much?
Give us more information so we can direct you further.
Thanks

[Shirley]

Hi Dorothy,
Sorry! I should have given out a bit more information. My plant was a seedling when I got it from Peru a little more than a year ago. Unfortunately it has gotten smaller rather than larger. It is too small for a photo to show you anything but it doesn't appear to be diseased, just doesn't like the culture. I grow intermediate and it is in low light. When I received it I put it in a fine bark mix. Over the next few months it lost all of its leaves but, understanding it was a deciduous plant, I wasn't too concerned. I later moved it to straight moss, but perhaps it was in a resting period and that was a mistake. Six months later I decided that I might be keeping it too wet so changed it to a fine bark mix with bits of moss added, but it still hasn't picked up. Now it only has a couple of very small green sprouts. Over the summer I've been watering it about every three days and fertilizing every second week with 12-2-14 (which I hear is the new wonder fertilizer for orchids!) I really would like to save it, however long it takes, but don't know what to do next! Do you have any suggestions for me?

[Dorothy]

I don't work much with seedlings though I have a couple of medium size catts that are growing slowly. Common sense tells me that you need to leave the little guy in one medium. That's a lot of moving around for such a small plant. I have read they aren't easy growers.
I can only hope someone else here can enlighten you better than I can. ( I resort many times to google for some insight)
I found this on basic culture and care - Huntleya heteroclita ( Huntleya Orchid )
Good luck

[Shirley]

Thank you for your help, Dorothy. The link is interesting and I'll work on those suggestions!

[Rosim_in_BR]

Shirley, I understand your concern. Huntleyas really are not easy. I have Huntleya meleagris naturally growing practically under my nose and every time I tried to grow it under artificial conditions I lost the plant. I must have sent at least three to the orchid heaven and then I stop trying (seed sown plants, which I then believed might be easier to keep!). Now that I read your post I feel challenged again! It is going to be a hard task finding Huntleya to try again. Good luck with your plant and don’t give up!

[Angurek]

I know this is an old thread, but I'd like to chime in. I just thought I'd give you some advice in case you wanted to try one again.

I haven't actually grown Chaubardias yet, but I am growing Huntleyas, so I can offer advice on them.

Huntleya is a complicated genus culturally. Some species (like H. burtii and H. wallisii), are very adaptible in cultivation, and can handle a wide temperature range. Others, like H. fasciata, are very particular about their growing conditions. I've found that these plants are extremely sensitive to fluctuations in growing conditions. The more finicky members of this genus are prone to "Sudden Death Syndrome" if conditions fluctuate constantly or if they aren't right.

In general, you want to grow these guys intermediate to warm, with good air circulation. The key to keeping a Huntleya happy is making sure the growing conditions are even at all times, especially in regard to water. If you keep them too soggy, they'll rot, and if you keep them too dry, they'll shed their leaves. They need phal light levels, but I've heard they can take moderate light like Zygos (I will not back this assertion because I grow them in deep shade).

Another thing to take note of is their proclivity to several foliar diseases. These things are disease magnets, especially if they're stressed out. Be very vigilant about diseases; when you spot the first signs of an infection, treat it as quickly as you can.

I hope that helps.