Habernia Radiata

[arwen]

Hiya, I was wondering if anyone would have some advice about my Habernia Radiata orchid. I thought it was doing ok.. but it hasn't flowered yet or showed any signs of flowering. The leaves seem to be getting curly at the end - is this normal for them or not?
I thought it may need more light so I moved it closer to the window and that just made it fall right over... was too weak to hold itself up, so I thought .. there has to be something wrong - any ideas?

Thanks

[Rogier]

Hello Arwen

This species doesn't have to be very large to flower. In fact they are always rather small and slender plants.

That the leaves are curly at the end is nothing to worry about. some closes do this. Did you bought it from the Japanese guy at the Peterborough show? he sold two (odd) types. One had the normal plant type but with variegated foliage and the other makes curlier leaves and double flowers.

The species (In all it's forms) definately loves water light and warmth in the summer. So in pot on a saucer of water in a rather sunny spot is ideal.
You can grow them outside but they do best with warmer summer temps.

If the stem elongates than it usually will flower. (maybe you can show us a picture of the plant?)

I hope you found it usefull.

Grtz

Rogier

[arwen]

Hi Rogier, thanks for the helpful advice I've taken a couple photos of the plant which I've linked to below. It's just lying on it's side now, should I do anything to make it stand back up.?
I didn't get it at the peterborough show, I got it as a seed earlier in the year on ebay. It's been doing fine until now

www.lr90.org/orchid/100_3352.JPG

www.lr90.org/orchid/100_3349.JPG

[Rogier]

Well I think that plant can flower.

But it does need more water. In a clay pot like that you can leave it in an inch of water all the time. (exept when it's dormant)

Also do you grow it on the spot you photographed it? If that's the case please place it in the windowsill. The fact that it dropped over has definately nothing to do with giving it more light. But is in fact merely a result of not enough light. It grows horizontally to reach to the sun.

Go get the stem upwards again you can place a stick in the pot and mount the orchid gently to the stick. BUT be VERY careful not to place the stick to close to the plants base as you might damage the underground tuber (You called it the seed) or the rhizomes that will make the new tuber(s)
(personally I would leave it as it is)

Orchid seed is very small. (powderlike) and is not easy to grow into a plant without a lab. What you bought was a dormant tuber. And eventually in the late summer/autumn your plant will die back into one or more new tubers just liek the one you bought.
If you are lucky you will get more tubers and therefore more plants the next year.

Greetz

Rogier

[arwen]

Hi Rogier,

I've added more water to the plastic saucer the pot is sitting in and I'm going to move the plant to the window sill. It does grow on the table there, but I guess there isn't a great amount of light getting to the table.
Hopefully it will still flower, I will post a photo if it does.
I've read that when it does go dormant I should remove the tuber from the pot and put it in a bag in the fridge - is that right? Or can it be left in the pot.

Thanks so much for you advice

[arwen]

Plant has started to go downhill over the weekend. It's still leaning over and the leaves have started to die off and go brown. Don't think it's going to flower now
I'll stop watering and wait until it totally dies off then i will keep the tuber till next year. Hopefully it will start to grow again then.

[Rino]

Yes! will be fine next year