Habenaria radiata succes?

[lily-anne]

 Has anyone had success  growing Habenaria radiata?
Last year i planted a few nodules in my swamp, with little result
Fortunately I could retain the bulbs to  try again
They got winter rest in the fridge and now they are sprouted and planted in a shallow dish in akadama and kanuma and fresh sphagnum . For the time being, I store them in the veranda.
I'm not intend to plant them this year in my swamp
every tip is welcome

[Maggi Young]

I haven't had any success myself with Habenaria radiata, Lily-anne and I am sorry to hear your plants in your bog garden did not do well.   There are several forumists who had grown these well, though - I hope we will hear their advice.

[Maggi Young]

It has been  suggested that  growing them like pleiones is a good idea :
 http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=4417.msg118680#msg118680 and it does seem that most cannot grow them outdoors.

[SteveC2]

I have found them to be totally frustrating.  My first attempt seemed to be going well, increasing in number for a couple of years then disappearing.  Second attempt failed dismally, weedy growth, no replacement tubers.  Third, with growing plants, lasted only a few weeks before they rotted off.
I have a "three strikes and you're out policy" so now they are off my grow list!

[Maren]

Hi Steve,

ditto. I grew them with my pleiones and they didn't do well. Life's too short.

[Gerhard Raschun]

I´d compare the culture with them of Disa. Many mixtures are situable: peat, sand, perlit, vermiculte and only a small amount of humus and impotant a high content of (live ) sphagnum. The soil should be own an acid reaction ! While the rest keep the soil moist but not wet ! When the leaves appear increase watering. While summer the pots are fluted in 2-3cm rain water. cultivated together with Disas and Sarracenia species and other CPs. In fall, when the go in rest, I repot them and keep it moist and frost free again.

It is difficult to get healthy material, because the tubers are very small, they dry out while sending. So it isn`t possible to get most of the Dutch material in growing.

I prefer to raise this species in warmer conditions, because most of the nicer clones from Japan aren`t hard enough, they prefer Zone 5.
In this case they start with the leaves in April and flower in May/ June. If the grow outside they flower within October till the will stoped by first temperatures below zero. So the new tubers can`t get into real size and will go smaller each year !

I`ll try to Show picts.

[lily-anne]

Thanks for your responses.
 Gerard, do you give  fertilizer? -what- how often - concentration- sun? - shadow - ?

[Gerhard Raschun]

Every fall I lift the tubers and pot them in fresh soil. I don`t give a fertilizer, because the live in habitats with poor nutrition. The need a lot of light but not full sun !

[lily-anne]

Here is a lot of useful info about habenaria radiata
My plants are for the time being 1.5 cm high-from the end of this month, I'm going to give a little strongly diluted fertiliser (every 14 days)


http://botanyboy.org/habenaria-radiata-the-egret-flower-of-the-far-east/