GROWING STANHOPEA in Pietermaritzburg

By Ray Aldworth

When I started growing orchids I heard of what wonderful flowers Stanhopea were. Three years ago by chance, a man doing some repairs at my house brought me a dried up orchid in an old basket with only one bulb and a leaf still alive. I identified it as a Stanhopea and immediately soaked it in water for a few hours and then placed it in a new basket. Today it is my largest plant, bursting out of the sides of the basket. I was able to identify it as S. tigrina when it flowered.

Stanhopea orchids are unusual in having flowers that grow downward or sometimes sideways through a hanging basket. The flowers are complex but very attractive and scented, but will only last about 5 days.

They like to be kept moist especially in hot weather when the bark in a hanging basket dries out quickly. I hang mine in trees in the garden where they collect rain and mist naturally. They thrive in cool, moist conditions. I use a potting mixture of mainly bark with perhaps a third old compost to retain moisture.

They like shaded bright light but full sun will burn their leaves. They thrive at temperatures of mid- 20 degrees Celsius, but as long as they are covered they can take extremes. Stanhopea originate in the Andes Mountains in various South and Central American countries. They are pollinated by male Euglossine bees which collect the flower’s fragrance to entice females. Stanhopea are related to several other orchid species such as Acineta and Gongora, and they are easily grown together.

I have the following Stanhopea in my collection: S tigrina, S. gibbosa, S warscewicziana, S. ronsard, S. jenischiana, S. ruckeri, S. saccata, S. nigroviolacea, S. oculata, S. Assidensis (tigriana x wardii), S. nigripes, S. letzei, S. connata and S. stevensonii.