How to pollinate stanhopea
 

Ok this may seem basic but i have no idea as to how to go about it. I would like to self my candida. Also considering crossing to Gongora truncata. Can anyone tell me how?

Thanks Scott

I remember reading in Dr. Rudolph Jenny's book on stanhopea's that the pollem had to be allowed to dry and shrink for 1/2hr after being removed, toehrwise, it wouldn't fit into the stigmatic cavity. Hope this helps.

Scott,
Besides Greenman advice (to dry pollinea), I remember you another tip: to avoid self-pollination, the stigma of Stanhopea flower became open, fertile and receptive only one day after you removed the pollineas (its usually only a 'virtual' cavity). More over pollinea remotion, its usefull to "scratch" the flower one day before pollinate it. I don't know if Gongoras show similar behaviour. Stanhopea female flower-part loves to be 'heated' before the 'act'!!!

What do you mean - to scratch? Where? How hard? :roll:

Shadow,
Yes, 'scratch' the flower, like a bee does! Use the finger nails to scratch the lip and the column, when the Euglossinae bees settle. More over to scratch, its usefull to remove the pollinias also. The flower 'thinks' the self-pollination bacomes impossible and then 'opens' the stigma (more or less one day after)! Stan are smart flowers!