Scaphosepalum rapax

[Louis_W]

Wow that is is tiny! The only species I've ever seen is Scaph. gibberosum which is a giant compared to that. Flowers were like 4" across if you count the super long parts sticking out horozontally

[Roberta]

A lot of Scaphosepalums are tiny... the big ones like S. gibberosum are the exception. Scaphosepalum beluosum has flowers about 3/8 inch. Scaphosepalum verrucosum a bit smaller (and always in bloom)

The flowers are so intricate - hard to photograph because they are very three-dimensional.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by MaryAngelini

HELP! I am new to the site so forgive me if I am being redundant of a previous post. I just acquired a Schaph. Rapax and it is looking a little droopy and curled and has a couple leaves starting to yellow a tad - what is going on? Is it too dry or too wet or mounted upside down?! (I'd attach a photo but it won't let me as it doesn't have a URL)

Note that this is an old thread...

First, Welcome!

Scaphosepalums need to stay on the damp side. (Sphagnum is a very good medium for the purpose, if mounted it needs daily watering) Orientation probably doesn't make a lot of difference - these grow on trees at various angles. It needs to grow quite shady. Sppm. rapax is a relatively warm-growing species. (Most of the genus grows cooler)

[MaryAngelini]

Thank you Roberta - I have it in a large terrarium that is warmed and humidified and it is lighted though sits on the darker side - will the light adversely impact it? If so I can move it or shade it in there. Also I could add a fogger or would spraying it be better?

[Roberta]

You don't need to be really warm... I looked up the species, it comes from elevations of about 400-1200 m in Ecuador. So it would tend to get night temperatures as low as the mid-50's to 60 deg F. Days around 80 deg F (could take a bit warmer). Shady and wet environment. (A lot of clouds) A fogger (giving high humidity) could be ideal, but if humidity is high (which it would be in a terrarium) if sprayed it wouldn't dry out fast. (But good air movement is still something you want - orchids don't suffer from too much water, but rather from not enough air)

Here's the IOSPE reference for the species:
IOSPE PHOTOS
Says "hot to wet" but based on the elevation range, it's more like "intermediate" or "intermediate/warm" I think.

[MaryAngelini]

Thanks that is really good to know, especially about the air - I did just place a fan, very low speed, which I fun for a couple of hours at a time, a few times per day - not sure if that is enough/too much, but I’ll keep an eye on my girls and make sure they’re not drying out too much. BTW I LOVE your collection - you must have a awesome greenhouse!!

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by MaryAngelini

BTW I LOVE your collection - you must have a awesome greenhouse!!

Thanks... Greenhouse? I do have a teensy one, stuffed, that houses maybe 10% of my orchids, The rest live outside all year around. (I live in a really great climate... essentially no frost in winter though chilly, nice sunny days) The only thing lacking is rain... so "rain" comes out of a sprinkler or hose. A friend, who is a superb outdoor grower, puts it this way describing southern California outdoor orchid growing, "Just subtract light and add water" .

There are lots of orchids that can tolerate winter nights in the low 40s to mid-30's F ... At the equator, species that grow above around 1300-1400 m are fine, with appropriate shifts as one moves to higher latitudes. A big part of the fun is learning what I can get away with.

[MaryAngelini]

I am totally jealous - I grew up in Santa Barbara so I know how awesome the climate is and that you can grow just about anything - I wish I could move back (sigh). Illinois is a bit less accommodating 🤣 hence the indoor terrarium