Stanhopea xytriophora, Gongora sp, and Coryanthes macrantha

[Wireman]

I'm an intern at this amazing place called Meadowview Biological Research Station. Recently we had the three orchids mentioned in the title donated to the greenhouse. They have mostly rotted, but they're wanting to grow and new leaves are coming out of new side shoots. I'm going to repot them tomorrow in their slatted plastic pots. They've been moved to a much drier location in the greenhouse.

The watering system in the greenhouse is meant for Nepenthes, so it turns on once every day. Considering this, should they be slab mounted? Are there any other tips for growing this odd, but fascinating plants?

[RobS]

Stanhopea (and probably both others) should be potted in a basket. Google for wooden orchid basket and you'll see what I mean. This is to give the flowers that often go trough the pot strait down room to emerge. Less familiar with Coryanthes but they too have flowerstems that grow down. I've seen gongora grown in pots but a basket could work too.

I wouldn't mount them.

[Wireman]

Thanks for the reply. We might be either building or ordering some wooden baskets soon if the plastic ones are beyond saving. The current pots they are in have plenty of room for the flowers to emerge out of the bottom, but the medium needs to e replaced immediately. They're in bad shape. Stanhopeas like sphagnum for a substrate, right?

[isurus79]

These are all moisture loving plants. I keep mine (Stans, Gongora and Coryanthes) planted in long fiber spagnum (very important to get long fiber, usually from New Zealand) inside of a tight fitting wood basket. I also water everyday and fertilize these guys like crazy. Good luck!

[Wireman]

We definitely have long fibre sphagnum, live and dried. Do they need to dry out between waterings? It looks they they were too wet for too long previously.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Wireman

We definitely have long fibre sphagnum, live and dried. Do they need to dry out between waterings? It looks they they were too wet for too long previously.

The dont like to be kept sopping wet, but the spag should also never completely dry out. It should feel moist and spongy at all times.

[Wireman]

Okay, I repotted all of them today. The coryanthes were completely rotted. The Gongora seem to have endured the drenching and neglect well, obvious new growth is visible. The Stanhopea should be able to recover. I have half of them potted in a lower layer of orchid bark and an upper layer of sphagnum, and the other half in a mix of perlite and sphagnum. We should get a lot of plants from the repotting efforts. They're hanging in an area with plenty of air circulation.

[isurus79]

Any pics? I'd love to see your grow area!

[Wireman]

I'll snap one when I go in on Friday. Be prepared for a lot of Nepenthes, and even more Sarracenia seedlings.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Wireman

I'll snap one when I go in on Friday. Be prepared for a lot of Nepenthes, and even more Sarracenia seedlings.

Oh that would be great! I am just getting into those myself, though I can't seem to find any legal, local sources of Sarracenia. I did get one Drosera though.