Stanhopea (abbreviated Stan.) is a genus of epiphytic, sympodial orchids with pendant inflorescences, found in Central and South America. This impressive primary cross comes from our friend Maribel Sandi Castro in Cost Rica, who created and registered it in 2022. It is a hybrid with Stan. wardii and Stan. maduroi. We are really looking forward to seeing yellow to cream colored (some spotted), extremely scented flowers with good sized flowers and a higher flower count on compact-growing plants. Stanhopeas are not often found in the marketplace.
Stanhopea, native to Central and South America, is a most astonishing genus, with the peculiar habit of blooming directly downward from the plant; featuring incredibly sculpted, pendant, large, waxy, fragrant flowers. The flowers last 3 days or less, but their spectacular beauty makes up for it. Large specimens will produce masses of inflorescences blooming in succession for a much longer blooming period. Summer, primarily July through September, is their main blooming season. Plants have large pleated leaves.
Stan. wardii has fragrant, spotted, yellow flowers that grow on spikes with as many as 10 blooms per spike. Stan. maduroi has fragrant yellow to cream colored flowers, with 2—3 flowers as wide as 6 inches across
Young plants can be started in a 3 or 4-inch plastic pot. When it has outgrown the pot, transplant it into a hanging open-mesh basket, or mounted on a large plaque, so that the inflorescences can protrude from the bottom. Plants should be grown in bright indirect or diffused sunlight. Direct sunlight will burn the leaves. Light levels approximating those for Cattleya, around 3,000 foot-candles, are best.
Temperature should be moderate: 52° to 60° F at night, with day temperatures 68° to 75° F in the winter, with moderate levels of humidity. Plants can withstand short spells of higher temperatures, but air movement, humidity and shading must all be increased. Water and fertilize regularly during active growth. Repotting is done best right after summer flowering. The best flowering come from large clumps of mature plants, so large baskets are usually used when repotting. An airy, yet moist medium work best, such as medium-grade fir bark (often mixed with sphagnum peat). Vigorous plants may need repotting approximately every three years.
Interestingly, Stanhopeas have co-evolved with euglossine bees, and rely on the bees for pollination. Male euglossine bees visit the fragrant Stanhopea flowers to collect fragrant compounds that they store in their hind legs and later use in courtship display. In the process of scraping the flowers for the fragrant oils, the pollen sacs (pollinia) get brushed onto the backs of the bees who inadvertently deposit the pollinia onto the next flower, thus pollination is achieved.
Don’t miss this opportunity to buy this rare, remarkable Stanhopea hybrid. A must have for collectors of uncommon or unusual orchids. Very highly recommended.
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