Dormant or Deceased: Habenaria and Sagarikii ?

[earcam]

Too many questions, but here goes....

A few months ago I purchased 3 oriental semi-hardies; Habenaria radiata, Habenaria myriotricha and a Pecteilis sagarikii. The consensus from the web, was that all three liked a cool dry winter and only to water them (low pH) once signs of life appear. They were planted in 4.5 inch pots half filled with claytron (air-filled) pebbles topped with a mix 3:1 of normal compost and Perlite, with about 1/8th sticking above the soil (the myriotricha is laid horizontally).

The radiata sprouted about a month ago, since then it has continued to grow healthily - yet the other two have not (these two were both purchased from the same supplier, with whom I've had no previous experience. I also bought some hyacinth bulbs, lupin and foxglove 'candy mountain' seeds - seeds fine, but I think the hyacinths were treated with some kind of anti-rot (traces of blue power, made my skin itch), however 4 out of 5 grew).

Could it be they didn't experience a cold enough winter Is there anything I can do to coax them into action or is more likely I've been the victim of unscrupulous sales (if I've certainly been ripped off, should I post the sellers (ebay) details here or is that bad etiquette )

I've seen some comments re: leaving in the fridge at ~4 degrees celcieus until sprouting - though these seemed to all come from people in year round hot/warm countries. I gave them 2 week spell in the fridge, but then panicked and removed them. They've been kept in doors, should i move them outside (obviously keeping an eye out for frost) (I live in London, UK)

Recently, out of frustration, i gave each a light watering to no avail - should I stop or continue to water

Maybe with cool conditions in the coming winter, they'll pop up next year If so, how should I store them over the summer

(Background info: I've been growing orchids for about 2.5 years, this is the first year i've tried hardies and semi-hardies, my Cyripedium and Epipactis rhizomes have all (bar 1 in ~20) sprouted and look like they'll do well - these are grown outdoors (pot bound) and brought in if frost occurs. So while definitely amateur, I was expecting some signs of life ).

I'm desperate to get the Pecteilis sagarikii flowering, as this so-called "Donald Duck" orchid looks absolutely fantastic


thanks in advance

[articuno75]

Give it a little longer. Look for the sprouts. I don't know what the grow zone is for your area. Here in Indiana, U.S. Pecteilis radiata would bloom for us around May/June. I think you might have rotted bulbs. That may not necessarily be the seller's fault. This does happen on occasion trying to grow these types of orchids. Proper culture prevents this. I've seen the "Duck orchid." It's very pretty and had the chance to buy it once. I just didn't have the courage to grow it. This will be my first attempt to grow radiata this year. I'm patiently waiting on my bulbs to arrive which should be sometime this coming week.

Good luck with your orchids. Do keep us updated on these and if you have any changes, please post pics.

[earcam]

Thanks for your swift response Jenny Good luck with yours

I don't think the bulbs have rotted (both felt firm) and I've been careful with the slight waterings I've given them (and pots have very good drainage).

The radiata has a healthy looking 1cm growth and seems happy enough I'm hoping the myriotricha and Pecteilis sagarikii get going soon!

(Will definitely post pics if I get bloom(s))

Caspar

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by earcam

...with about 1/8th sticking above the soil (the myriotricha is laid horizontally).

This seems very high in the pot for a tuberous terrestrial. Was this recommended by the seller?

[earcam]

I can't find the original sources to quote from... and from further searches can't now see anything to suggest that they should.

I'll put a layer of potting mix to cover them, thanks Andrew.

[earcam]

Last weekend i was about to top up the mix when i saw a tiny green shoot poking up from the myriotricha!!!

Having applied a bit more potting mix, i'm still waiting for signs of life from the Pecteilis (but at least i'm a bit more patient now).

(Will post some pics when they get larger)

[articuno75]

Woo Hoo!

Patience is something that all Orchid Geeks have a hard time with

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

The habenaria bulbs I bought a year ago were a bit soft when received, which left me in doubt of their viability. Sure enough, they didn't come up. Having been potted in two different mixes, I eliminated that as a problem, and the bulbs I'd had the year or two before that had come up fine, so I emailed my source, the hard to remember dutch bulb company, and they made good this year, sending me bulbs with green just barely showing on all 4 bulbs. So, if the last one does not come up, you may want to consider waiting long enough to be absolutely sure (I emailed them in the fall) and thank them for all the successful bulbs that they shipped, but that your ... failed to come up, and did they have a policy of replacing bad bulbs like other companies?

[articuno75]

Cynthia~ what mix did you pot them into by chance?