Stanhopea

Stanhopea (Frost) Hooker 1829

Type Species: Stanhopea insignis (Frost) Hooker

Tribe: CYMBIDIEAE

Subtribe: STANHOPEINAE

Pronunciation: stan-hope-ee-ah

Temperature: W.I.

Country: Central to South America

Between 50-60 species are known in this fabulous genus which contains some of the most extraordinary plants in the orchid kingdom. They are generally epiphytes but sometimes lithophytic and are usually found in moist warm forests at medium to low altitudes. They are medium to large plants with a single, large, leathery, plicate, leaf at the top of the pseudobulb. One of the peculiarities of this genus is the habit of the inflorescence to be borne pendantly, emerging from the root mass and developing into magnificent buds which eventually open to display the most incredible, large, complex flowers one can imagine. The flowers of most species do not last more than a day or two unfortunately however they are most often wonderfully fragrant to make up for that shortcoming.

Best grown in a wire basket to allow for the flowers pendant habit but a slab mount is also used by some growers. They should be kept moist and given bright light
throughout the year with fertilizer given when in active growth. Hold off on fertilizer in cooler months but continue watering except if very cold conditions occur. Most of the species are easily grown in normal orchid cultivation conditions and will reward the grower with a magnificent display of flowers if only for a short time.