Stenoglottis longifolia

[Shirley]

Here is one of my favourites, not commonly seen. It has bloomed each summer since I got it four years ago, beginning with one flower stem, and the flowers last about three months with the stems getting longer and longer (now about 2 ft) while the leaf span is only 7 inches. The colouring is quite delicate and doesn't photograph well but the flowers look like little faces with their tongues sticking out.

[Becca]

How beautiful! I received one of these as a gift....I must ask you how you grow this? Potting medium, temps, humidity, lighting, watering schedule and fertilizing? So far I haven't killed mine and it appears to be a seedling....I can't wait for it to bloom now that I see yours! Thanks for sharing!

[Toddybear]

It breaks my heart that I killed the one I had years ago. I have not seen them for sale in Canada since.

[cb977]

Shirely, that is beautiful!
I was going to ask the same growing conditions Becca asked

[Rosim_in_BR]

That's very nice,Shirley! I've been looking for this plant here, but never found a single one available! Too bad for me!

[Shirley]

Hi Becca and Susanne,

This plant is very easy to grow. Mine is in a shallow clay pot in a mix of fine bark, perlite, charcoal and bits of sphag. Also I was advised to put some sand in the mix to be sure it drained well and I've done that but I see that every time I water some of the sand washes out the bottom so I'm not sure whether there's any left in there! As for temperature, it seems very tolerant. I grow intermediate -- 60 at night to 75 in the day but my little sunroom can heat to 85 deg. or so in summer and possibly down to 55 in the winter. I fertilize every two weeks in summer and every three weeks in winter, at present using a 12-2-14 and adding some B1 solution on the alternate plain water days. The plant is deciduous -- the leaves on mine are discolouring now and starting to drop off though it's still flowering. When the leaves are gone it gets a good rest from water or fertilizer until it starts sprouting again about late November. I hope this is helpful to you. Good luck!

Shirley

[Becca]

Originally Posted by Shirley

Hi Becca and Susanne,

This plant is very easy to grow. Mine is in a shallow clay pot in a mix of fine bark, perlite, charcoal and bits of sphag. Also I was advised to put some sand in the mix to be sure it drained well and I've done that but I see that every time I water some of the sand washes out the bottom so I'm not sure whether there's any left in there! As for temperature, it seems very tolerant. I grow intermediate -- 60 at night to 75 in the day but my little sunroom can heat to 85 deg. or so in summer and possibly down to 55 in the winter. I fertilize every two weeks in summer and every three weeks in winter, at present using a 12-2-14 and adding some B1 solution on the alternate plain water days. The plant is deciduous -- the leaves on mine are discolouring now and starting to drop off though it's still flowering. When the leaves are gone it gets a good rest from water or fertilizer until it starts sprouting again about late November. I hope this is helpful to you. Good luck!

Shirley

I didn't realize the leaves would drop off! Mine still has its leaves. I potted mine in a blend of small fir bark, small sponge rock, chopped sphagnum, charcoal, and granite chips and then I put a layer of sphagnum on top since it seemed to be drying out quickly. Since I put the sphagnum layer on the top I have had new root growth this last month. I keep mine on the bottom floor of my orchidarium so it gets good humidity and the temps are around 75 during the day and high 60's at night. So I guess if it drops it's leaves, I won't freak out. If I remember I will try and take a picture to post!

[Shirley]

Sounds good to me, Becca! I'll look forward to your picture.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by RPfeiffer

I didn't realize the leaves would drop off! Mine still has its leaves. I potted mine in a blend of small fir bark, small sponge rock, chopped sphagnum, charcoal, and granite chips and then I put a layer of sphagnum on top since it seemed to be drying out quickly. Since I put the sphagnum layer on the top I have had new root growth this last month. I keep mine on the bottom floor of my orchidarium so it gets good humidity and the temps are around 75 during the day and high 60's at night. So I guess if it drops it's leaves, I won't freak out. If I remember I will try and take a picture to post!

Becca, sounds like you're getting your money's worth on the expensive orchidarium. Glad you did it?