Stanhopea inodora is native to Mexico, Belize and Nicaragua. In Belize, where it is rarely found only in the Pine Ridge Mountain Reserve in the Cayo District, it grows in wet mountain forests...
Stanhopea inodora also called as The Odorless Stanhopea, Stanhopea ruckeri var. speciosa, is a species of the genus Stanhopea. This species was described by George Loddiges ex John Lindley in 1845.
IDENTIFY STANHOPEA INODORA
Stanhopea inodora is native to Mexico, Belize and Nicaragua. In Belize, where it is rarely found only in the Pine Ridge Mountain Reserve in the Cayo District, it grows in wet mountain forests. In Nicaragua, they grow in the province of Jinotega near Macizos de Penas Blancas at an altitude of 1400 m and along the Pantasmi River.
It is a medium sized, hot to cool growing epiphyte or occasional terrestrial, which reaching a height of 37 cm, with ribbed, sulcate, 3.5-5.0 cm long and 2.0-3.5 cm wide pseudobulbs enveloped basally by several dry sheaths and carrying a single, apical, plicate, elliptic-lanceolate, gradually narrows below into the elongate, petiolate base, 30 cm long and 11 cm wide leaf.
The Odorless Stanhopea blooms on a pendulous, several to 10 flowered inflorescence occurring in the spring and summer with showy, fragrant flowers. The flowers are 12 cm in diameter. They are cream-white with bright red dots on the petals of both whorls. The white lip is bright orange on the underside of the hypochile, with fairly distinct "eyes", and the epichile and base of the corner are gently dotted.
STANHOPEA INODORA CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Stanhopea inodora needs a light level of 25000-35000 lux. The light should be slightly filtered or dispersed, and the plant should not be exposed to the midday sun. That Stanhopea is reluctant to bloom when the light level is insufficient, but the leaves are susceptible to scorching or yellowing when the light level is too high. Strong air movement should be ensured all the time.
Temperature:
The average temperature of the summer day is 25-26 ° C, the night 16-17 ° C, and the daily difference is 9-10 ° C. In spring, the average temperature of the day is 27-28 ° C, the night 14-17 ° C, and the daily difference is 11-13 ° C. The average temperature of the winter day is 23-24 ° C, the night 13-14 ° C, and the daily difference is 9-11 ° C.
Humidity:
In the summer and early autumn, The Odorless Stanhopea needs the average humidity of 75-80% and then gradually drops to 65% at the end of winter and at the beginning of spring.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
The drooping inflorescences grow from the bases of pseudobulbs and therefore it is probably best to cultivate Stanhopea inodora mounted closely to the patches of tree ferns. Such cultivation requires, however, maintaining high humidity, and in the summer of daily watering. In the case of such suspended plants, during the dry and hot periods it may be necessary to water several times a day.
They are also grown in wire baskets with large mesh moss-covered with sphagnum moss and filled with loose, fast-drying soil. The substrate should remain moist, but it can not be wet, because the roots must dry relatively quickly after waterings.
Repotting or dividing a plant should only be done when the growth of new roots begins. This allows the plants to acclimatize in a relatively short time and provides them with the least stress.
Watering:
From late spring until autumn, the precipitation is moderate to heavy. Their quantity then decreases quite rapidly, going into a 5-6 month dry season, which lasts from late autumn to the beginning of spring. The Stanhopea inodora should often be watered during active growth, but their roots must dry between watering. The substrate around the roots should never be soggy or damp. In autumn, after flowering, the amount of water should be drastically reduced.
Fertilizer:
Weekly use of 1/4-1/2 of the recommended dose of fertilizer for orchids during the growing season is recommended. You can use a balanced fertilizer throughout the year; or from spring to autumn, use high-nitrogen fertilizer, and then until the end of autumn, high-phosphorus fertilizer.
Rest period:
The amount of water in winter should be limited, but Stanhopea inodora can not dry excessively or remain dry for too long. After reaching the maturity of the new pseudobulbs, they need a 1-month period of root drought. Occasional fogging during this period should protect the plant against excessive drying. Fertilization should be reduced or eliminated until new growths appear in the spring and more abundant watering starts.
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