fertilizing stanhopea - Orchid Board

Marengo · #1 02-02-2011, 10:11 PM

I recently got a "baby" stanhopea. It's a cross between S. wardii and S. tigrina, but I'm at work and can't remember the exact name. I would like to know what type of fertilizer it should have and any other culture information, please.

WhiteRabbit · #2 02-03-2011, 07:23 PM

Manfred Busche · #3 02-03-2011, 07:25 PM

Hi Marengo

.

How tall is your Stanhopea 'Baby Plant' and what compost is it in ?
Also, do you have a place where it is at least 18°C (Celsius) warm and
where there is medium-to-bright daylight ?

Marengo · #4 02-04-2011, 01:31 AM

The plant is about 6 inches high in a 2 inch pot. It looks like it is in a mix of vermiculite and bark. Is it too small to need fertilizer? Should I allow it to dry out between waterings. I could not find much on-line about it.

Marengo · #5 02-04-2011, 01:32 AM

Sorry, I forgot to say the name is stanhopea Assidensis.

Manfred Busche · #6 02-04-2011, 04:32 PM

Sorry, you also forgot to say

whether you can put this plant in a place where it would get about 18°C (Celsius) of warmth plus medium-to-bright light ...

Marengo · #7 02-04-2011, 09:52 PM

Yes, I have a warm place with bright light. I have about 20 orchids of various types, so I am not just starting. It's only that I have never tried the Stanhopea before.

Manfred Busche · #8 02-05-2011, 11:05 AM

A healthy Stanhopea plant that has grown from a small seedling to 6 inches tall should have 3 to 5 leaves plus bulbs,
each leaf gradually taller than the other; with lots of roots - and should no longer fit in a 2 inch pot ...

How does your plant compare to my above example plant ?
It would make no sense to give fertiliser to a plant that is in a pot too small ...

Anyway, a Stanhopea plant in a condition like the example plant I have sketched above needs much fertiliser
when in growth (repeat : when in growth).

If you deem it necessary to fertilise, depending on the condition your plant is in,
I suggest that you use a good-quality mineral fertiliser 35-10-10 to be sprayed on the plant every 2 days.
Strength of fertiliser: 200 ppm; i.e. 200 parts of fertiliser dissolved in 1 million parts of water.

Marengo · #9 02-06-2011, 10:40 AM

This little plant has about 5 bulbs and 10-12 leaves. it does not seem to be pot-bound yet, so I will wait until it gets larger to fertilize. I sent a photo, but it came out "sideways" - sorry, I have never done this before.
Thank you for all of the good advice. I am, excited about this little one and hope I can keep it growing!