Stanhopea Orchid Care
Species of the Stanhopea Alliance have large, dramatic flowers with complex mechanisms for pollination, including channeled ‘walkways’ for insects, and fragrant perfumes used by solitary tropical bees to attract mates. The Stanhopea Alliance includes 20 genera and 270 species found from Central America to Southern Brazil, including Stanhopea, Gongora, Coryanthes and Acineta. Species in this group are vigorous growers that exhibit persistent, clustered pseudobulbs topped with long leaves that fall off with age. The flowers can be short lived but their otherworldly appearance and potent, beautiful fragrances make up for their ephemeral nature.
Light
Stanhopea Alliance species flourish in a wide range of light intensities. Sources of natural light from east or west-facing windows, or diffused light from south-facing windows are ideal. Prolonged, direct sunlight may damage leaves.
Temperature and Humidity
Stanhopea Alliance species prefer daytime temperatures between 70°F and 80°F (21°C to 27°C), and night temperatures from 58°F to 65°F (14°C to 18°C). Ambient humidity is less important for Stanhopea Alliance species when they are adequately and routinely watered, but they benefit from humidity levels above 50%. This can be achieved at home with the use of a humidifier, or a humidity tray.
Feeding
We highly recommend Green Jungle Orchid Food, specially formulated to provide orchids with nutrients they receive in their natural habitats. Green Jungle is the fertilizer we developed to use on our own plants in production, with excellent results for decades! Green Jungle works best with water low in alkalinity (such as rainwater, distilled water, or reverse osmosis water). You may use tap water, keeping in mind that mineral buildup will require repotting more frequently, on the order of every 1 to 2 years. If your Stanhopea Alliance orchids are in sphagnum moss, fertilize every 3rd watering year round.
Watering
Stanhopea Alliance species prefer to be evenly moist. Allow the potting medium to approach dryness between waterings, without drying out. During warmer months, Stanhopea Alliance species require more frequent watering. Leaves of species in the Stanhopea Alliance tend to be large, and as such, they transpire a relatively high volume of water. The leaves develop pleats and the pseudobulbs shrink when they are dry too long, or watering is inconsistent.
Potting & Dividing
All Stanhopea Alliance species have inflorescences that emerge from below, and should be potted in baskets or pots that can accomodate flowering. Use hanging baskets with 1~2" spaces in the bottom, or plastic pots from which the bottom has been removed. New Zealand Sphagnum Moss is an ideal potting medium for Stanhopea Alliance species. Repot every 1 to 2 years, preferably in spring, when active growth resumes. When repotting, choose a basket or pot large enough to accommodate 1 to 2 years of growth. Remove old moss, rinse the root system, and trim away dead roots. Before adding fresh sphagnum moss, position the plant with the oldest pseudobulbs close to the edge of the pot, and newest pseudobulbs facing the middle, so that new growth has space to emerge and become established. Mature Stanhopea Alliance species can be divided when there are 6 or more pseudobulbs. If you divide, ensure each division has a minimum of three fully mature, leaf-bearing pseudobulbs, in addition to new leads. Old, leafless pseudobulbs can be retained as part of the divisions (they continue performing photosynthesis and water storage functions). Always sterilize cutting tools with a flame, or rubbing alcohol before using them to divide orchids.