Stanhopea care

[IdahoOrchid]

I have recently gotten a Stanhopea anfracta. Would someone discuss the care and keeping of this with me or direct me to care instructions.

I know, I should have gotten the information beforehand but it came as part of a trade.

[Frdemetr]

Hi Steven,
I my conditions (maybe very different than yours!), Stans LOVE tree-fern fiber as media; unfortunately this media is now forbiden in Brazil (due predatory collect in the past, the brazilian tree-fern Dicksonia sellowiana is now a serious endangered species in nature). I still have some old remains of tree-fern fiber, and I'm using it as a 'envelope' (in the bottom, sides and top of the baskets) to preserve humidity, and using a mix of coconut chips, pinus bark, pinus cone, sphagnum moss and carcoal as main media. I'm trying also sphagnum moss in replacement of tree-fern fiber, in same way of use, with reasonable results. Good growing!

[IdahoOrchid]

The one I have is in sphag and coco chips. It seems to be a bit compact. Should I make it a more open mix?

What about light? watering? fertilizing? humidity?

Dormancy?

[Frdemetr]

Steven !
You want to know 'everything about Stans!'. I confess, I want too!!!
Stan anfracta belongs to the 'Section wardii' in the Stan classification but, in terms of growing, Dr Rudolf Jenny made another division (with tips to grow in northern hemisphere):
1) Stans from México and north Central America: a little more dry environment in the winter, temps never below 12ºC (average 15-18ºC, sometimes 28-30ºC, great drop at night). "Warm greenhouse" in the winter, outside with good air circulation (w/o drafts), under a tree or bush its OK (intense light w/o direct sun)
2) Stans from central Central America: almost constant humidity, no dry winter, 15-18ºC (exceptions: the primitive hornless Stans - avicula, pulla, ecornuta, cirrhata - those need warmer temps - minimum 20ºC - and constant humidity through the year) in a "cool glass house"; open air in the summer, good air circulation w/o drafts, temps could be below 15ºC for a few days.
3) Stans from north South America/south Central America: amazonic species needs contiunuos humidity and warm temps (candida, reichenbachiana - 20-22ºC), Andean species (including anfracta) tolerates lower (but never cold! - 15-22ºC) temps, but also needs continuos humidity (doesn't need winter dry rest)
4) Stans from southeast South America (Brazil): clear dry winter season, much light w/o direct sun, temps seldom below 15ºC in the winter, often above 30ºC in the spring/summer
In my growing conditions (maybe quite different than yours) Stans wardii (Central America) and lietzei (southeastern Brazil) needs a clear dry season, otherwise they don't bloom (but survive!); the remains (incluing the other southeastern brazilians - oculata, guttulata, insignis) don't need rest at all.
Media: a 'soft', non-compact media is essential, 'cause the spikes grow direct downwards through the media (exceptions: the hornless primitive Stans)
Fertilization: I use combined fertilization, ie, organic stuff in the media and chemical in the leaves; Stans love stinky fertilizers like 'bokashi', powdered fish, fish emultion etc. I use also Peters 20-20-20 all the year, weak and weekly!
I recommend the fantastic book "The Astonishing Stanhopeas, The Upside-Down Orchids", Author: Barney Greer, 1998, as a 'companion' for your Stan cultivation!
Good luck!

[IdahoOrchid]

So, I should grow mine as you describe for Central American stans then, correct? I'll have to convert the cel. temps to F though.

[Frdemetr]

Hi Steven!
Jenny is Swiss and he uses SI unities (ºC), as we in Brazil; but it's easy to find a web site that converts in ºF.
Stan anfracta is a South American Andean species (Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia), and doesn't need higher temps (about 20ºC is OK, but seldom below 15ºC in the winter). Andean weather is almost always humid, and the Stans from the Andes don't need winter rest.
I'm waiting for the flower pics!

[stitz]

Stanhopea care--I am puzzled as to how to grow S. insignis! Five years, I have been trying without flowers. It is difficult to find info on this species and it is the type for the genus.

Frederico, you wrote 15°C as a low temp. I have gone much lower than that. Perhaps, that is part of my problem!? I assumed that since the plant is native to Santa Catarina, it is exposed to low temps even below 10°? Is SC on the southern fringe of insignis range?

I have grown in a wood basket with New Zealand sphagnum moss. It seems to like that!

I am thinking of breaking the plant apart into 3-4 pieces. It would be very simple!

--Stitz--

[irphrog]

so what would be the origin of stanhopea grandiflora? Mine is growing in a small black "basket" pot in sphagnum moss and has put out 5 new leaves in this summer's growing season

[Frdemetr]

Hi 'Stitz'

Well, insignis is known as a 'easy bloomer' Stan (we say it is "sem vergonha", shameless), it blooms with or w/o a dry resting period in the winter. But, of course, it is a native species, than the easiness. I guess the lower temps in the winter is a problem, but a little of smelly fertilizer is desirable too. In the Santa Catarina lower lands almost never the temp drops below 10ºC (in the mountains sometimes snow!).

Originally Posted by stitz

Stanhopea care--I am puzzled as to how to grow S. insignis! Five years, I have been trying without flowers. It is difficult to find info on this species and it is the type for the genus.

Frederico, you wrote 15°C as a low temp. I have gone much lower than that. Perhaps, that is part of my problem!? I assumed that since the plant is native to Santa Catarina, it is exposed to low temps even below 10°? Is SC on the southern fringe of insignis range?

I have grown in a wood basket with New Zealand sphagnum moss. It seems to like that!

I am thinking of breaking the plant apart into 3-4 pieces. It would be very simple!

--Stitz--

[Frdemetr]

Originally Posted by irphrog

so what would be the origin of stanhopea grandiflora? Mine is growing in a small black "basket" pot in sphagnum moss and has put out 5 new leaves in this summer's growing season

Irphrog,
Stan reichenbachiana is an amazonic species, and needs higher temps all over the year (~20ºC), and constant humidity too