Dipping my toe into Stanhopea

[WhiteRabbit]

Thanks for all the replies, tips, etc!

I know these like to be moist while growing - I wonder when in a basket if I should just use sphag? I had planned on bark, but with the hot, dry summer weather, maybe sphag would be better ? CHC ? How moist should they remain? Like, hard to over water?

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....).

Ray - I did actually learn about the pronunciation when I was looking into their requirements before diving in - but it does seem that just about everybody pronounces it with the "ee" sound - even the AOS culture sheet gives that pronunciation

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.

Thanks Judi! I know the Stan should grow spikes downwards - the plastic pot it is in is mostly open, but, yeah, I should get it into a basket, and probably the Gongora (tho I've read they get lateral spikes). I had been thinking I had some time to do so, but better safe than sorry - especially if you think it may be bloom size. I had started to consider that if it were 1-2 years from bs, as I was told, and I got it at the end of summer, and being a summer bloomer, that it COULD feasibly be blooming next summer. Will be looking for an appropriate basket.

Can the coconut fiber basket liners be used? I don't know if the spikes would manage their way thru that ...

I do have a small wood Vanda basket, but have read that spikes can sometimes not find their way out of those ... I think I will look for a plastic one ... ?

I will be checking out that Stanhopea blog, Dave - thanks for posting the link!

Thanks again to all for all the replies with your tips, experiences, etc - it's greatly appreciated! And keep 'em coming if you have anything to add!

[isurus79]

You should wait to repot until the spring growths come in. These guys can sulk for a looooong time if repotted at the wrong time! And Stanhopinae like to be pretty moist during the growing season. I'd say pure spag is the way to go for your environment.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by isurus79

You should wait to repot until the spring growths come in. These guys can sulk for a looooong time if repotted at the wrong time! And Stanhopinae like to be pretty moist during the growing season. I'd say pure spag is the way to go for your environment.

Thanks for the tips!
Should fertilizer be withheld during the dry period? And when to start that? This plant currently had a moderately sized new growth, plus a few small ones ...

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Congrats and best of luck. I have one too, so far not greatest growing orchid for me, but we shall see :-)

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

Thanks for the tips!
Should fertilizer be withheld during the dry period? And when to start that? This plant currently had a moderately sized new growth, plus a few small ones ...

Yep, no fertilizer and almost no water, depending on how dry your environment is. I'd start when your new growths are done maturing.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by TOMMYMIAMI

Congrats and best of luck. I have one too, so far not greatest growing orchid for me, but we shall see :-)

Thanks- and wishing you luck, too!

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Yep, no fertilizer and almost no water, depending on how dry your environment is. I'd start when your new growths are done maturing.

Thanks much!

[flexdc]

Sonya,
I bought my first one at Santa Barbara orchid Estate two years back (Stahopea tigrina) in July and I repotted in a wire basket by September. Actually the basket was a wire food tray I stole from the cafeteria after I ate the burger! Shhh!!
Anyways, this is how I potted it:
I lined the basket with old vegetable plastic mash from a bag of onions I bought from the grocery store (another way to recycle), then a thin layer of sphagnum, then the whole plant adding fine bark and charcoal. That was two years ago, and the plant seems to love it. Also I make no attempts to shelter it in winter even when nights go down to 50. In the summer it resents the heat, and likes cool shade. Last spring a flower spike aborted after a heat spell!!
Anyways, here are a few pics of mine in flower and with the wire basket I planted it in.




Andrew

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by flexdc

Sonya,
I bought my first one at Santa Barbara orchid Estate two years back (Stahopea tigrina) in July and I repotted in a wire basket by September. Actually the basket was a wire food tray I stole from the cafeteria after I ate the burger! Shhh!!
Anyways, this is how I potted it:
I lined the basket with old vegetable plastic mash from a bag of onions I bought from the grocery store (another way to recycle), then a thin layer of sphagnum, then the whole plant adding fine bark and charcoal. That was two years ago, and the plant seems to love it. Also I make no attempts to shelter it in winter even when nights go down to 50. In the summer it resents the heat, and likes cool shade. Last spring a flower spike aborted after a heat spell!!
Anyways, here are a few pics of mine in flower and with the wire basket I planted it in.




Andrew

Gorgeous! Tigrina or nigerviolaceum are what I have been especially lusting after ... perhaps next year

Thanks for the tips!
I had stayed away from the genus - for some reason just presuming they liked warm-hot temps, and with their size and growth habit, that wouldn't be do-able for me in winter. I was thrilled to discover that most were cool-warm growing . Although, heat spells could present problems with spikes, apparently ... We'll see how it goes for me I'm still needing to find a basket for it...

[flexdc]

Soya
Heat spell ok as long as you mist. My mistake was heat plus next to air conditioning duct! I was asking for it !
Andrew


Andrew L.A.