Dipping my toe into Stanhopea
 

I've long loved the unusual and fascinating Stanhopea blooms, and recently decided it was time to try my hand at one.

A couple of weeks ago I got this beautiful Stanhopea jenischiana. I was told it is 1-2 years away from blooming. I have read these want a dry(ish ?) period in winter to bloom - but I'm wondering how dry ... Also, I have read differing info on how much light for this species - from lower light to Catt light ... Opinions, advice, tips, personal experiences requested, please!

I also received a small, pretty Gongora gratulabunda (second pic) - any ideas how far off from bloom size this might be? It's in a 3" pot ... Also, any advice, tips, etc for this species?

Thanks so much!

I used to grow my jenishiana in moderate Cattleya light. I also stopped watering in winter and would let pseudobulbs shrivel up quite a bit.

Fwiw over the winter my jenischiana was hanging in a window which I one morning discovered heavily frosted on the inside. Air temp in the room was 42F that day. As far as dryness, I let the moss get dry but not crunchy.

These are really cool orchids. The size is the only reason I have not gotten any in the past but, last spring, I bought a relative, Sievekingia fimbriata.
I look forward to the day you are posting pictures of the blooms! Good luck!

:hello I'm a toe-dipper too. Bought this plant from a vendor in south Jersey in June 2013. It was in a 4'' plastic slotted basket hanging midway in the greenhouse.Since I knew the spikes come from below,I questioned about the smaller holes in the basket but was told it was OK. But following my gut,I repotted 2 months later to a larger plastic vanda-type square basket(it has good moss around it already) and added coconut fiber around the moss. It now has 2 spikes coming from the top. Likes freq. waterings and bright shade,humidity. Heard about the drier winter rest also and just misted it. Also tried Assedensis and now has a big bud. But this is in a pot since I thought it was too young to bloom. Spike is at top and just manages to hang over the side. Fingers crossed! Good luck!:lol:

Don't forget! As the genus is named after the Earl of Stanhope, it is properly pronounced "Stan-HOPE-ah", not "Stan-Hope-ee-ah" (as most of us do....).

Sonya I'd move both into slotted baskets.
The first looks to be of blooming size, the second NBS.
It's possible being in pots they could be sending out spikes that get caught in the bottom of the pot, and you'd never know until you saw the remnants while repotting. They won't necessarily climb over the sides.

Just my:twocents:


Judi

Congrats Sonya for venturing to these unique orchids. Bought my first Stanhopea last year and it was kind enough to flower - very exciting! Enjoy.

Mines is in a 8" x 8" x 6" homemade hardware cloth basket with NZ moss and it dries out FAST. Daily watering for me! It dropped all of it's leaves after repotting, so I was freaked it was done. Now it has 2 new growths and tons on new roots. so all :biggrin: now.

I too am just starting out with my first Stanhopea. I bought a Stanhopea connata at our OS auction last August. So far 2 news growths.

It came in packed sphagnum in a wide mesh plastic basket. It was sadly dessicated. I repotted it in the same basket lined with a thin layer of sphagnum and filled with with a bark/charcoal/tree fern/perlite mixture that drains rapidly.

I think it is still too small to bloom, but who knows. I had read that the mesh baskets were OK. Sounds like I should consider something more "open" on the next potting.

:congrats: Looks like a nice one. I would use a vanda basket if I could get them here in Canada!

Interesting blog about Stanhopeas:
Essence of Stanhopea