Stanhopea soil mixes

[NepGuardian]

Hello everyone,

So I have acquired 2 Stanhopea's and have been looking into potting media. I have New Zealand long fiber sphagnum moss, Coco coir, perlite, lava rock, and Canadian peat moss. I have used a mix of 1:1 of LFS and Coco coir for coryanthes with great results but I was wondering if there are better mixes for Stanhopea. If anyone might be able to help with a soil mix with what i currently have it would be appreciated, and if there is a better mix I will order the other components for a later repotting.

Thanks all

[Roberta]

I like to work backwards from the needs of the plant, then factor in my growing conditions - especially humidity and how often I can water. Stanhopeas in nature grow on the sides and branches of trees, so their inflorescences can hang downward freely. They do need high, fairly constant humidity. (They tend to lose leaves if they don't get enough water) Under my growing conditions, I just use sphagnum in plastic or wire baskets. But they get watered pretty much daily. With plastic baskets, especially I watch the developing inflorescences carefully... if they look like they are meeting interference from the baskets, I get out my little diagonal cutters and clip away pieces of the basket to give them freedom. The sphagnum holds together nicely so that it doesn't fall out of the holes .

[DirtyCoconuts]

Listen to this lady. She grows Stans better than most.

[Roberta]

Thanks DC... not sure that's quite true, I have had a few successes but other people have more - and I try to learn from them.