Stanhopea lietzei

[Frdemetr]

This is an usual variety of Stan lietzei; unfortunatelly I had several spikes destroyed (ate!) by slugs and snails and/or rotted (didn't stopped to raining here!) . I hope I can save one spike with straw color and purple eye-spot!

[Posey]

Nice. I haven't seen that type of Stanhopea before. Thanks for posting!!

[isurus79]

Thats pretty cool looking!! Too bad about the slugs/wetness. What is your Stan potted in??

[Frdemetr]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Thats pretty cool looking!! Too bad about the slugs/wetness. What is your Stan potted in??

Hi Steve!

I have used wooden baskets (made of "peroba-rosa" - Aspidosperma polyneuron - a very resistant brazilian wood). As media I'm using tree-fern fiber in the bottom, sides and top ("envelope") and a mix of pine bark, pine cone, coconut chips and carchoal as main media. Tree-fern fiber is now forbidden in Brazil, and I'm trying to replace it by sphagnum moss, with more or less efectiveness (that means more or less failure...). Stans l-o-v-e tree-fern fiber, and my old stocks are ending! This will be a problem in the near future...

[isurus79]

Tree fern fiber? Interesting. Is that similar to Hapuupuu? I have always used spagnum for my Stanhopinae, but I might have to look into tree fern...... Why do you prefer tree fern to spagnum?? Thanks for the info!!

[Frdemetr]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Tree fern fiber? Interesting. Is that similar to Hapuupuu? I have always used spagnum for my Stanhopinae, but I might have to look into tree fern...... Why do you prefer tree fern to spagnum?? Thanks for the info!!

Steve,

In Brazil we have a tree fern called "xaxim" (Dicksonia sellowiana), that produces an admirable fiber to pot orchids ("xaxim" looks like the Royal Fern – Osmunda regalis – of the Northern Hemisphere). Unfortunately, now the "xaxim" fern is an endangered species, due to abuse in its collection in the nature. I guess the sphagnum moss from Chile and New Zealand are better than the brazilian moss, 'cause ours sphagnum comes from the "mangue", the swamp in the transition between fresh water and sea, and retains a certain amount of salt (so it needs to be very well washed before use)

PS: Never heard about "hapuupuu" before! In google it’s a kind of fish!!!

[isurus79]

lol Your right, it is a fish!! I added and extra "puu" by accident. The fern is Hapuu, not hapuupuu, and its scientific name is Cibotium splendens. It is very common here in Hawaii and Ive seen it sold as an orchid medium, though Ive never tried it. Maybe Ill give it a go for the next round of Stanhopinae that I buy.