Is it hard to grow a stanhopea at home? - Orchid Board

irrka · #1 03-07-2008, 12:37 AM

I've been drooling over pics of two stanhopeas on Oak Hills site--wardii and nigriviolacia

. How hard are these plants to grow in relatively low humidity (at least in winter) and NY temperatures? Is southern exposure at this latidude enough for these or would they need supplemental lights of some sort? How big do they need to get before they flower? how big do they end up in general? ugh, i googled and googled and got nothing concrete. please help?

Ray · #2 03-07-2008, 10:01 AM

IOSPE (http://www.orchidspecies.com) is your friend when it comes to such questions.

Both are OK for phal-type light levels, but the nigroviolacea might be better from a temperature perspective - wardii likes it hotter.

They are NOT pot plants. The inflorescences grow from the bottom of the rhizome straight down, so they must be in a basket with a coarse mesh bottom.

smweaver · #3 03-07-2008, 11:16 AM

Irrka, both of the species you mentioned (and Stanhopeas in general) will eventually get to be fairly large plants. But if you can give them the room they require, they're easy orchids to grow and bloom. Mine tolerate fairly low humidity levels during the winter (between 40 and 50 percent). During the summer, if you can put them outside in a shaded location, they'll bounce back nicely from any slower growth rates they may experience in the colder months, especially if your summers are humid. You can also try Tropical Orchid Farm (Tropical Orchid Farm) and Dr. Doug Pulley (http://dpulleyorchids.com/), both of whom have lots of nice Stanhopea species (and in Dr. Pulley's case, hybrids) to choose from. I've bought from both in the past, and I think they would be more than willing to talk to you and provide some recommendations. Good luck with whatever you decide on. Stanhopea flowers don't last long. But their fantastic scents and ease of culture make them (in my humble opinion) ideal orchids.

Steve

Royal · #4 03-07-2008, 03:43 PM

What about medium?

Frdemetr · #5 03-07-2008, 06:48 PM

Hi Irrka,

Steve and Ray posted very good tips; take a look at this thread ( http://www.orchidboard.com/community...opea-care.html ) with more usefull informations!
Good look with the Stans!

Undergrounder · #6 03-08-2008, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoyalOrchids

What about medium?

Fredmtr has good advice on Stanhopea care, but i live in Sydney which is humid in the late summer but fairly temperate the rest of the year. A grower who specialises in Stanhopeas near me uses a 3:1 mixture of coarse perlite and coconut coir in hanging baskets with pebbles on top to keep the perlite blowing out. He swears by it and so far my two stans haven't complained.

irrka · #7 03-08-2008, 04:29 PM

Thanks! Hopefully i won't kill it too much

Manfred Busche · #8 10-19-2008, 08:49 AM

Hello there.
To learn how to grow a Stanhopea plant at home, we might ask Amanda.
She successfully grows a powerful plant in her kitchen.
For information, go to "AmandaTom Stanhopea platyceras Bud Drop".
Regards,
Manfred.

isurus79 · #9 10-19-2008, 09:11 AM

Irrka,
While I totally dissagree with Manfred's choice of candidate for president (thank God he's in Germany), I have to say that your choice of Stans are pretty easy to care for. Nigroviolacea and wardii are fairly thin leaved species (as opposed to plants like florida and napoensis that have wide leaves) which means they enjoy brighter conditions. They are fairly easy to care for if you give 'em bright enough and moist enough conditions. Once you get several p-bulbs of about 2 inches or so in width, you should get flowers. These plants will/can grow very large unless you divide them. If you get wardii or nigroviolacea, I wish you good luck. Not because they are tough to grow, but because I love seein pics of their flowers. Enjoy!!!

orchideric · #10 10-19-2008, 11:58 AM

Dear Irrka,

Here is a more straightforward answer - Stanhopeas are for greenhouse culture, not for growing in a home. They are too big and the fowers too ephemeral. They also flower better the larger they get. Try something that is better suited for a limited growing space with long-lived flowers. I suggest you look into Latourea Dendrobiums (try H & R who have pioneered their hybridization).

If you try a Stanhopea you will be giving up a lot just to say that you did it.

Hope that helps, Eric