Mis-labelled Stanhopea? - Orchid Board

LoveTheLittleOnes · #1 05-31-2015, 03:14 PM

Hi everyone! I'm new to OrchidBoard (this is my first post!) but I have been reading lots of previous posts and have found it to be quite the wealth of information! What a great community!

I was hoping someone could help me ID the genus of a baby orchid. I bought this one in a flask from the Costa Rica airport, and the label says it is a Stanhopea wardii. I am slightly unconvinced however, as the growth pattern doesn't fit (this one is monopodial and Stanhopeas are sympodial? Please correct me if I'm wrong!) and it doesn't resemble the pictures of mature plants I have seen. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

801229001 · #2 05-31-2015, 05:30 PM

seedlings of sympodial orchids grow monopodial until they are old enough

Vladimir Basiuk · #3 05-31-2015, 05:52 PM

looks oncidium-like

LoveTheLittleOnes · #4 05-31-2015, 05:52 PM

Ooooh! So it may actually be a Stanhopea! Thanks!!

isurus79 · #5 05-31-2015, 06:29 PM

Its probably too young to tell at this point. Wait until the next growth comes in.

euplusia · #6 06-01-2015, 03:37 AM

I doubt that your plant belongs to the Stanhopea alliance. Even small young Stanhopeas look different.

LoveTheLittleOnes · #7 06-01-2015, 11:50 AM

I was thinking the leaf structure looks a lot like the oncidium it's sitting beside... I'm happy with whatever it turns out to be, just wanted to make sure I'm giving it what it wants! The leaves grew quite a bit in size before I took it home (my mother was raising them from the flask in a little humidity incubator set up and gave it to me when it seemed old enough to come out), and now it's not doing much. I know it's probably sulking from the environment change... I've been helping my mom with her orchids for a years (mealy bug patrol etc) but have only gotten my own plants in the last few months, and haven't lost one of my own yet (knock on wood!) so I am probably over-babying everything.

Grandy · #8 06-03-2015, 02:43 PM

This is my young Stanhopea that the nursery guy said was only a month old when I got it last fall--hope this helps. It had two leaves on it when I got it so it's slowly

LoveTheLittleOnes · #9 06-03-2015, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grandy

This is my young Stanhopea that the nursery guy said was only a month old when I got it last fall--hope this helps. It had two leaves on it when I got it so it's slowly

Oh that's very helpful Grandy thank you! I guess it will just be surprise orchid until next year's growth comes in. Maybe No Id plants should be called 'surprises' instead? :