Stanhopea age - How can you tell?

[rbarata]

That's my question...How can one know its age just by looking? Whatare the signs?
And if you have two back bulbs, pot them, and leaves start to grow. Does the age counter resents to zero when they are potted?

[estación seca]

I don't understand what you're asking. Age as in whether it's big enough to flower? Or big enough for something else?

[rbarata]

Big enough to flower.

[estación seca]

I don't know the answer for Stanhopeas, but many here grow them.

[rbarata]

Just for reference...

Some of you might remember, this is how it looked a year ago...



And this is how it looks today (the light green leaves are this spring's new growths, the smaller one is not fully grown yet)

[estación seca]

Just trying to think like an orchid... I suspect the first two new growths producing full-sized pseudobulbs will flower. The most recent growth is almost there but not quite.

[Regelian]

It's just like humans, some are ready before others! Seedlings blooming while still in the flask are well documented, while plants that rarely bloom, despite size, equally well known (and often composted). Age, much again, like with people, has less to do with maturity and ability. This is genetically founded.

Now, on the practical side, most orchids will need at least two matured bulbs to support seed pods and, thus, rarely bloom before hand. Divisions typically bloom in their second year, but this is a generalization. There simply are no arbitrary 'now your 21' laws.
Jamie

[orchidsarefun]

I'm not sure about Stanhopea. I was given a tray of 8 seedlings that were so overgrown that I had to saw off about 3 with a knife to bring to a manageable size. This was in September 2016. One of the remaining 5 was in bloom. The grower wasn't sure how long they'd been in the tray.
Almost a year later there has been some new leaf growth and I can see new roots poking out the bottom of the basket. No sign of any spike/s.........and there should have been by now.....in theory
Some of the leaves were sunburnt. Then I had to spray for spidermite.

[rbarata]

That's a huge plant...
I see this is a difficult question, too many factors to consider.
Anyway, I'm planning to repot it next spring. Do you think it's ready for that?

[orchidsarefun]

The few that I have seen at shows and greenhouses were all underpotted. Based on my experience, if anything you should consider repotting into a smaller pot. ( assuming that's not what you meant in your comment )