STANHOPEA
This unpretentious orchid - a real exotic rarity. Its blossoms sprout through the substrate, and the flowers are dazzling intricate patterns and shapes.
All 40 species of Stanhopea grow in the mountains of Mexico, Peru, Colombia and Brazil as epiphytes on the trunks and branches of trees. In their stems they store nutrients and water needed for survival in the dry season.
Containers.
Grow Stanhopea only in plastic pots with slots and holes in the walls and on the bottom, or in baskets of pine and oak blocks or bamboo sticks. Any utensils should have enough holes in the bottom of the exit stems.
Substrate. For these epiphytic orchids use loose and nutrient substrate. You can buy ready-made substrate composed of bark, peat fiber and foam chips, replacing sphagnum moss.
Transplant. One-pot every 2 years when the substrate is compacted, will slowly dry out and allow air to the bad roots.
Place. Stanhopea grow well in warm and cool rooms on a light place, but shade from direct sunlight.
Watering. Pour stanhopea have defended tap water at room temperature.
Feeding. Fertilize only in the period of growth at each watering with liquid fertilizer for orchids in low concentrations.
Secrets of Success
Stanhope’s care directly related to the time of year. Is it hard to grow at home these amazing flowers?
Not at all! Stanhopea unpretentious and does not require special conditions. They do not need room greenhouse, heating and fluorescent light. However, taking care of them, you need to follow some rules and features of their seasonal development.
And what are the characteristics of seasonal development stanhopea?
These orchids have a distinct winter dormancy when irrigation is sharply reduced, eye on the pseudo bulbs, and moisten the substrate only after they begin to shrink. In the summer and autumn during active growth, stanhopea abundantly moistened by dipping baskets in water. Summer baskets with useful stanhopea make the fresh air and hang them in the trees.
Can anyone make a substrate for these orchids?
Yes, many fans themselves prepare a mixture of different natural materials - pure peat moss, fern root, fallen leaves.
Horned bull
Stanhopea mackerel (S. tigrina). View from the largest, up to 20 cm in diameter, the flowers, with the most bizarre and colorful. For scary horns on his lip and a rare brownish shade flower parts Mexicans call this view "orchid-bull."
Council
Stanhopea very useful spray of fine spray. This replaces the night dew, usually in their home country.
Flowering contrary
Stanhopea - the most unusual in the way of flowering orchids and flower structure. Stanhopea form stalks pointing down. In nature, they pass through the substrate, which grow and hang freely, forming buds. In the culture of the way through the flower stalks lattice baskets in which they grow.
Fantastic vanilla
Inflorescence stanhopea have between 3 to 10 large (10-20 cm in diameter) flowers with a very strong aroma. Lip (mean petal lobes) is divided into three parts, the middle one has two large horn-shaped processes that are unique to stanhopea. Exotic flowers look complements bizarre coloring - various patterns of dots, stripes and spots of various sizes and shapes.
Stunning long flowering
The flowering of a flower stanhopea - 3-4 days, but the plant has consistently creates new flower stalks, and the total period of its flowering takes 2-3 months. The rooms are more common following types.
