Stanhopea graveolens - the heavy stinker

[euplusia]

To classify an orchid species, morphologic features (i.e. lip details for example) are not the only characteristics.
Some species, in particular within the Stanhopeinae group ( the perfume flowers) can be determined with your eyes closed. Here is one example: Stanhopea graveolens. The Latin "grave olens" is translated as "heavy stinking".
Well, you shouldn't just stick your nose directly into a bunch of flowers, but it is by far not as bad as the scent of some Bulbophyllums or Stapelias. It is a blend of mothballs and Camphor.
Back in the sixties I had the chance to go skiing in Switzerland. There in the hotel aisle I smelled exactly the same scent as I do now in my greenhouse.
This Stanhopea can be found from Mexico down to Brazil, in higher elevations. It is temperature tolerant, easy growing and flowering, and the flowering season here is August and September.

[Silje]

How do you grow this one? Does it like it wet or to dry out a bit between watering?

I got a graveolens in May and not quite sure how to treat this one yet.

[WhiteRabbit]

Lovely!

[euplusia]

When I visited our nearby Botanical Garden and had the chance to look behind the public showrooms, I was surprised how wet and in fresh moving air they were grown.
I'd say that while in active growth and developing flowers, they should be kept on the moist side all the time, with a good fertilizing schedule. As they are grown mounted or in open baskets, it is nearly impossible to overwater.
Plants from under the tropics like this Mexican species undergo a drier winter rest.

[isurus79]

This is beautiful; too bad about the scent!

[lepetitmartien]

And you're lucky, I have it listed as smelling s…t

Beautiful anyway

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Really nice!

[ronaldhanko]

Beautiful flowers, though.

[Leafmite]

The flowers are quite pretty but I think this is off limits as I grow inside the home. I even had to buy a bulbo that smells sweet (ambrosia). At least it should repel the moths?

[euplusia]

I think it ain't too bad if your home smells like a Swiss hotel.