Stan wardii- time from spike to bloom?
 

Hey all. Just got my first Stanhopea- a smallish but mature wardii with one little spike. It needs to be repotted ASAP as it is overgrowing its basket, but I'd prefer to let it bloom out first rather than risk losing the spike due to repotting stress.

However, I can't find any info on how long spikes take to develop. If it's going to be r-e-a-l-l-y slow and take months, I'll just go ahead and run the risk and upgrade its living environment. I'd hate for it to have to adjust to new surroundings as winter approaches. But if it will just be a couple of weeks, I know the flowers won't last long, and I'd be fine with waiting til she's done showing off.

Right now the spike is between 1/4-1/2" (1cm). Thanks!

It should only be weeks, not months. I'd vote for leaving it, but wait for some of the real Stan growers to chime in. I'm a total hack. :)

I am certainly no stanhopea expert, but I have several of them. I would let the spike develop and bloom, and then I would repot the plant. A few more weeks, or even a month or two, isn't going to make any difference in the plant's condition, so long as it's not rotting or diseased or anything like that. Or, alternatively, you could sacrifice the inflorescence and repot the plant now, with a view toward conserving the plant's reserves for increased vegetative growth. The plant will recover nicely in that situation and certainly bloom again. If the plant is basically healthy, it really isn't going to make much difference long term which of these options you might pursue. Anyway, that's my two cents worth. If your conditions are optimal, the spike might even bloom despite being repotted. Stranger things have happened.

cool. that's what i was hoping for. i don't mind waiting a little bit, especially since i've read from several sources that Stans don't need much of a winter rest and will grow through the cooler months. but I've seen some of my chids grow from spike to bloom in the blink of an eye, others take weeks or even months, and apparently the Psychopsis I just bought may keep me waiting around for so long that i shouldn't even be very excited about her 2 spikes. i just didn't want to wait for the bloom to finish and then find myself days away from cold weather (or at least the subdued version of it that we get here in FL). i will wait for the spike to do its thing, and meanwhile will take advice from any others who wish to give it. gracias, merci, thanks, and blessings!

Hi Johnny,

I have grown Stans by more than 25 years, and I don't know the correct answer to your question (how many time from spike to bloom); it varies depending of climate (as warmer, faster), humidity, nutrition, species (few weeks in Stan insignis, oculata; several weeks in Stan wardii, gibbosa; few months in Stan nigripes, florida) and "by chance". But I think you must follow the advice from dvespertilio and wait for the end of blooming!

Hi JonnyBravo.

Your "smallish but mature Stan wardii is overgrowing it's basket" ...
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When a plant overgrows it's basket, the reason therefor is long over-due repotting, right ?

Long over-due repotting also means degraded compost. Degraded compost destroys roots causing
malnourishment, and that's the reason why the leaves of your plant are so smallish ...

A malnourished plant cannot flower. Probably, the "flower spike" (1 cm) you hope for is no flower spike
but only the beginning of another smallish leaf ...

Hence, I suggest that you re-basket your plant; see thread "AmandaTom, Stan platyceras bud drop" ...

Outlook :: :waving
a well-cultivated Stan wardii has 4 or more upright standing leaves of a length of 16 in. After a dry season,
she may produce 5 or more flowers which hold their sepals/petals up and emit a distinctive scent and are,
with large, dark eyes looking at you, arguably amongst the most beautiful of all the Stanhopeinae ...