Plant of the Month - Habenaria medusa

Habenraia medusa, August 2024 greenhouse-grown Plant of the Month

Photo courtesy of Joan Goodman

An interview with the grower, Barry Lubin

By John Hockberger

Barry what’s the name of the plant?

Barry — Habenaria Medusa

Tell us a little bit about the plant.

Barry — The plant is a spectacular Habenaria because of its white petals. Very showy and it grows tall and it’s easy to grow.

The reference you made to Simone Biles - that was not to say this is a difficult plant, but what was that all about?

Barry — What I was trying to say was, I saw how Sarah grew her Habenaria Medusa and it was 4 feet tall, had hundreds of inflorescences. Mine grew, but not anywhere near the potential that hers did. So what I was trying to say is I didn’t know until Sarah‘s presentation just how much better that plant could be than the way I grew it. She is a spectacular grower. She had hers under a spotlight. I grow in a greenhouse and I have lights in my greenhouse as well, so I started under the lights and then I put it in an area where it could grow taller. Just like Sarah, I don’t have any lights standardized that are tall enough to grow that plant.

So it’s easy to grow?

Barry — It’s easy to grow because you can leave the tubers in the pot over the winter time. You don’t have to do anything to the plant other than put it away where it’ll be safe and then it starts growing in the spring. And I figured out that I just need to water it a little bit when it starts to grow and let it get into full growth and then really pile on the water and fertilizer. And if you do that, then the plant will be safe and it’ll grow spectacularly.

You said the plant is roughly doubling in size every year?

Barry — It does. I’ve been growing in that same pot probably for three or four years. I’m at the point now where I have to take half the plant and put it in another pot because there’s no more room for all the tubers.

How long have you had this plant?

Barry — Five or six years, maybe.

Did you grow it from a single tuber?

Barry — Yeah, it grew up from a single tuber.

Would you recommend it for a windowsill grower?

Barry — I think it would work well for just about any conditions. It’s such a simple plant to grow. It takes up space and needs a lot of light while it’s in growth from spring through the fall, but then all winter long when you don’t have a lot of light, it doesn’t need it. It doesn’t need the space because you can put it off in a corner where other plants won’t grow and you don’t have to water it. You can just forget about it.

Do the inflorescences grow phototropically toward the light source?

Barry — Yeah they will. You do have to have light coming from above or turn the pot.

Any last recommendations about this plant? Any difficulties that you’ve discovered?

Barry — The most critical factor is to not overwater it when it first starting growth. You have to let it get into full growth before you start giving it lots of water.

If you were going to get an AOS award for this plant, you would name it Simone Biles?

Barry — I think so!