A habenaria and a cynorkis...

[katrina]

Habenaria rhodocheila (red form) I've been told this might soon be considered a new species but until I hear something definitive...I keep the tag as is.




And Cynorkis uncinata

[Tindomul]

Gorgeous both of them! I love the Habenaria though. Last Saturday I had the opportunity to observe a few of them up-close at Planting Fields Arboretum on Long Island NY. They are gorgeous!!

[WhiteRabbit]

Beautiful!

[katrina]

Thanks for the comments! Glad you like them.

Tindomul - you should give a couple a try. I think you'd do great w/them. Spring shows coming....

[Paul]

I also love Habenaria. Don't think I could keep them happy though. If I were to find some cheap at a show or in trade I'd consider giving them ago but no luck on those venues.

[katrina]

I think the prices are coming down so keep your eyes open.

If you just remember the seasons w/them...they really aren't all that tough. Admittedly though, I still worry until I see green every year.

[RosieC]

Beautiful!

[isurus79]

I know its an old post, but I'm loving both of these species' flowers!

Katrina, you've got me hooked on the Cynorkis. I'll probably post pics of mine in soon.

[katrina]

They are a fun group! My gibossa started blooming a couple of weeks ago...should've gotten pics but I didn't and it's a bit past prime now. The habs are waking up but it'll be awhile before they bloom.

Btw - Andy's had some cool habs...or he used to. I got my yellow rhodochiela from him a year or two ago.

[estación seca]

I bought two orange rhodocheilas last summer, from Carter & Holmes and from First Ray's. I left Ray's in sphagnum in its little 2" / 5cm pot, and move the C&H plant from the same kind of pot to a 1-gallon / 3.8 liter with a mix of potting soil, perlite and pumice

I also got a pink hybrid Habenaria from C&H. It died quickly; I don't know why. The two rhodocheilas grew fine through the summer but didn't bloom.

The AOS recommends a very long, bone-dry winter dormancy:
Habenaria rhodocheila

Other people, including Ray, said to water them lightly in the winter, and not to let them go dry. I took a deep breath and decided to do the bone-dry method.

The AOS article says they wake up in February or March. Mine didn't. They said to spritz lightly if there was no growth by April. I did that, and nothing happened. My growing area was hot during the days, and quite humid. What to do?

They sprouted last week on their own. I've begun regular watering.