Container tips for Stanhopea?

[greenhouseFrog]

I’ve had this Stanhopea shuttleworthii for only about a month—the newest pseudobulb has been steadily putting on mass in my care, too!It’s growing in sphagnum inside of a 1 ounce(30ml) plastic cup and it seems like the future growths are going to grow over the sides of the cup it’s in.

From what I’ve been able to gather, these plants are most often grown in hanging baskets, but it seems like folks are particular about the baskets having large enough openings so as to not hamper the emergence of the spikes.

As an aside, I’ve considered acquiring a second Stanhopea to see if I might be able to grow one mounted to a tree—the solitary Catasetum I have mounted bare-root still hasn’t died(and surprisingly hasn’t been shriveling)and that has emboldened me to potentially throw away money in pursuit of cool plants that I can grow on trees!

Looking for your input—how do you grow your Stanhopeas? Thank you in advance!

Live from greenhouseFrog’s busted stovetop, it’s Stanhopea shuttleworthii!

[Roberta]

Most of my Stanhopeas are in plastic baskets (6 inch or 8 inch) Then I watch them when they start to develop spikes, if I see one getting stuck, I get out my clippers and cut the basket around it to set it free. Over a few years, new growth pokes out of the hole, no problem... they're epiphytes after all, the remains of the basket stay sufficient to hold the hanger for quite awhile.

A few larger ones are in wire baskets with BIG holes - problem with those is keeping medium (even spahnum) in place. A trick I have used when potting those is to line the basket with a few layers of newspaper. They hold the sphangum in place until it gets a chance to "solidify" a bit with roots holding it, in a couple of years the paper just disintegrates. And if spikes develop, they can poke through easily. (Some people use coco fiber liners, spikes may or may not poke through, I prefer not to take the chence).