Stanhopea tigrina nigroviolacea 'The Predator' FCC/AOS arrived!

[JScott]

Originally Posted by Roberta

What a gorgeous plant, and in superb condition!

I would suggest not even thinking about repotting... let it do its thing. If spikes look crimped by the basked, just clip the offending parts to make bigger holes... it's unpredictable where they'll come out. It's well-established in all directions and that's what it wants. Just water it frequently... I water my Stahopeas pretty much daily (even more when it's hot/dry), all year around. You can't overwater them. With that much root mass, it'll be fine with whatever humidity it gets if adequately watered. And yes, based on what I know of its history (local knowledge of the cast of characters back to when it was actually awarded), that is a piece of the awarded plant. (If it was mericloned, it wasn't that long ago and the resultant plants would still be fairly small... )

Also knowing where it was originally grown (when it got awarded), it's quite temperature tolerant... in its original home, it was sufficiently inland that it got highs above 100 deg F., and lows near freezing, periods with single-digit humidity on occasion. And city water. So it's not fragile. You got a gem!

Thanks for the tips! If it can handle that kind of heat (its 97 degrees now and it's 2:40pm here) would it do better outside? The humidity is better outside. I'd have to water more often, but I don't mind. I go out there and water some of them daily anyway. I take it that it's practically impossible to overwater? I have a good tree I could hang it from where it would get filtered light. So should it go outside? It really is a spectacular plant, and I feel honored to have such a fine plant. Most of my plants are nothing special. Mericlones and unproven seedlings, and the like. This is the first plant I've ever bought that was actually something special. It makes me a little nervous, but also excited haha. My other Stanhopea has done great tho, so I'm sure if I can grow that one, I can grow this one too.

Keep in mind that our days are in the 90s, sometimes approaching 100, but nights rarely get below 75, if that make a difference.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by JScott

Thanks for the tips! If it can handle that kind of heat (its 97 degrees now and it's 2:40pm here) would it do better outside? The humidity is better outside. I'd have to water more often, but I don't mind. I go out there and water some of them daily anyway. I take it that it's practically impossible to overwater? I have a good tree I could hang it from where it would get filtered light. So should it go outside? It really is a spectacular plant, and I feel honored to have such a fine plant. Most of my plants are nothing special. Mericlones and unproven seedlings, and the like. This is the first plant I've ever bought that was actually something special. It makes me a little nervous, but also excited haha. My other Stanhopea has done great tho, so I'm sure if I can grow that one, I can grow this one too.

Keep in mind that our days are in the 90s, sometimes approaching 100, but nights rarely get below 75, if that make a difference.

I think it'll be fine outside... keep on the shady side and water the heck out of it. I don't think it particularly cares about cool nights, will happily tolerate them but doubt that it requires them. For the whole genus, they resent underwatering (tend to defoliate, probably a mechanism for conserving water in droughts...) but I don't think that overwatering is possible. (I have one in particular, that is on the soggy side, and is doing the best of all) Remember, they are in baskets, so get plenty of air no matter how wet they are.