Essence of Stanhopea

Stanhopea orchids – natural slug and snail control

2008-05-08T22:28:00.000-07:00

With onset of cold and wet autumn and winter there is a need for easy and effective control of slugs and snails. These pests love to munch on the tips of emerging shoots and really favor young flower buds. All orchids growers looking for an effective means of controlling them, and Stanhopea growers are no exception – its painful waiting for beautiful flowers to emerge once a year and then to lose it overnight to a hungry snail!

Whether your stanhopea’s growing outside, under the shade of the trees or in a greenhouse due to the weather restrictions – at times we all need to exercise snail and slug control. We all tried commercial pellets and all agree that they less than satisfactory for long term use – with frequent watering of stanhopea plants pellets become moldy and unsightly, dangerous to house pets and wildlife. We all also tried beer, eggshells, lime, wood shavings, sawdust, etc – great for the dry plants, completely unsuitable for stanhopea’s and other orchids that need frequent waterings.

I’ve done some extensive research and found that there is natural and effective remedy and it’s called “mustard meal” – or in other words, grinded mustard seeds. I’ve been using it on my stanhopea orchids for a number of years, and never looked back – its natural, its effective, and it works. Mustard meal been used in organic gardening to control pests, nematodes, fungi and here in Australia can be purchased through Yandilla Mustard Seed Oil Pty Ltd. If you live outside of Australia, check with your local mustard seed oil producers – they may be able to supply you with this natural effective product.

Another way is of course, make it yourself. Visit your local health food store and ask if they have in stock or can order for you bulk quantity of mustard seeds – you would only need small quantity at the time – 100/200g and grind them yourself in coffee or spice grinder. You can also purchase them in the supermarkets in herbs and spices sections, but they usually only sold in 25/30g small packets.

Sprinkle grinded mustard seeds into your orchid compost when you planting and replanting your orchids, on the top of the orchid soil to control slugs and snails, top up any time when its rainy weather and enjoy seeing your beautiful stanhopea plants and flowers in its majestic glory.

Stanhopea Ecornuta

2008-04-19T14:36:00.001-07:00

Well, it’s quite late in the season, but my Stanhopea Ecornuta flowering now. This is very interesting and rather rare variety from Costa Rica. This stanhopea variety classified as “primitive” or “hornless” stanhopea, due to its twin flowers facing each other. The trick with this variety is not to plant its bulbs deep in the orchid compost and to plant it high up so it can send its very short flower spike very close to the bulb. The flowers will open up very close to the base of the plant. The scent of this Stanhopea is strong spicy and even though flowers appear delicate, they are quite hard and waxy. Beautiful addition to any Stanhopea collection, especially since its one of late flowering Stanhopea’s.

Stanhopea Insignis x Self

2008-04-05T13:05:00.000-07:00

One of my late-flowering Stanhopeas in flower at the moment – Stanhopea Insignis x Self – one of the beautiful multi-colored stanhopeas in my collection. The colors are pale yellow/purple and the scent is strong cinnamon. For me, it’s always flowering late in the season, and always rewarding me with these large, beautiful, majestic blooms. Its vigorous variety and sends multiple flower spikes – this year its sending 6 flower spikes with 4 flowers on each spike and the one’s in the picture the first one opened. It’s always nice to have late-flowering stanhopeas in any collection and to enjoy these dramatic, beautiful orchids later in the season.

Stanhopea Tigrina

2008-03-20T12:00:00.001-07:00

I’ve got surprise from one of my beautiful Stanhopea’s – Stanhopea Tigrina. About 4 weeks ago we had few days of quite heavy rain and this plant decided to send another flower spike. Quite unusual, because it’s already flowered very early this season and I did not expected it to flower again this year. But here it is – Stanhopea Tigrina in flower mid March. This variety is “old favorite” and loved all over the world for its beautiful flowers and very strong vanilla scent.

Stanhopea Tricornis x Insignis

2008-03-01T22:26:00.000-08:00

Well, it’s March, beginning of autumn and here in Sydney days getting cooler and my Stanhopea Tricornis x Insignis just opened its flowers. This cross has very beautiful, very delicate sculptured flowers with strong jasmine scent. At this stage it’s developed 3 flower spikes and sent them through the sides of the planter. Each spike has 4 flowers and I always enjoy seeing beautiful stanhopea flowers later in growing season. Last year this variety was flowering well into the end of autumn and I am looking forward seeing more flower spikes.

Stanhopea Wardii

2008-02-15T11:53:00.000-08:00

Stanhopea Wardii

Another of my Stanhopea’s flowering at the moment – Stanhopea Wardii. This variety been around since 1838 since its discovery in Colombian forests and remains popular with Stanhopea collectors all over the world for its beautiful yellow/orange vanilla scented flowers. This variety producing medium-sizes flowers but more than compensate for it with its reliability and yearly abundance of flowers. I repotted this stanhopea in early spring and once it’s established in its planter, it’s started sending flower spikes. It sent 3 x flower spikes from the sides of the planter with 5 flowers on each spike. Stanhopea Wardii is mid-season flowering variety here in Sydney and my personal “old favorite”.

Stanhopea Warcewiczii

2008-01-25T10:07:00.001-08:00

Stanhopea Warcewiczii

Mid last year I’ve acquired this stanhopea and have been waiting for a while to see its beautiful flowers . Its flowering now and its Stanhopea Warcewizii var “Bonnie”. The flowers are pale lemon color and the closer I can describe its scent as strong pine resign mixed with all spice. This one is mid-season flowering orchid producing very nice, compact medium size flowers. At this stage the plant is not big and developed only one flower spike with 3 flowers and its very nice addition to my Stanhopea collection.

Stanhopea Spindleriana

2008-01-18T10:09:00.000-08:00

My stanhopea Spindleriana flowering at the moment. This one is one of the rare and unusual varieties and rather hard to find. Its opened its flowers this morning and this year it’s developed 3 flower spikes with 6 flowers on each spike. The flowers are beautiful pale cream with burgundy color spots and the scent is heavenly marshmallow/vanilla scent. Stanhopea Spindleriana is registered hybrid between Stanhopea Oculata and Stanhopea Tigrina and one of the beautiful majestic orchids from the Stanhopea range.

Stanhopea Wardii Clear

2008-01-08T11:42:00.000-08:00

Flowers everywhere – my beautiful Stanhopea Wardii Clear opening its flowers this morning. This one is quite a large plant and currently has 18 flower spikes coming through the bottom and all sides of the planter. This variety have huge, crisp, luminous waxy flowers without any spots and flowers appear looking like porcelain beautiful individual sculptures. The color is white/yellow with green tones and the scent is very very spicy. This orchid going to flower for a while with more and more flowers opening up.

Stanhopea Inodora x Wardii Aurea

2008-01-05T12:32:00.000-08:00

One more variety opened up its flowers this morning – Stanhopea Inodora x Wardii Aurea. Its flowers look very delicate, yet quite large and strong. This variety usually keeping its flowers longer than usual 6-7 days. The scent of this cross is old fashion medicine mixed with spice. More flower spikes coming through the other sides of planter and I am looking forward seeing its beautiful flowers for a while.

Stanhopea Wardii Aurea

2008-01-04T22:54:00.000-08:00

Another variety of my Stanhopea opened its flowers today – Stanhopea Wardii Aurea. This Stanhopea native to Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Venezuela. This orchid is nicely sized with very pleasing strong vanilla scent.

The flowers are showy deep yellow with small purple spots. Flowers are large and nicely fragrant. This season it’s developed 5 flower spikes and the one in the picture the first one opened. Other flower spikes are still very small at this stage so I will be enjoying long flowering period from this variety.

Stanhopea Nigroviolacea

2008-01-03T22:09:00.000-08:00

The flowers of my Stanhopea Nigroviolacea opened up this morning. This one is one beautiful Stanhopea’s native to Central America. This variety remains popular with collectors since its discovery in 1838 in Mexican tropical forests. This variety producing spectacular burgundy/cream highly perfumed chocolate/vanilla scented, waxy flowers. The scent is very strong and penetrates the whole house, some people find it even overbearing, but I love its chocolate/vanilla smell. This variety was the very first of my Stanhopea’s, it’s the one that started “stanhopea fever” for me. More than 20 years on and its still rewarding me with its majestic flowers every summer without fail.

Stanhopea Wardii x Inodora in flower

2007-12-30T21:05:00.000-08:00

This morning my Stanhopea Wardii x Inodora flowering – its flowers are large, beautiful waxy with strong scent of spice and old fashion medicine. The greenish tingle on the flowers are from Inodora parent and yellow color with spots are from Wardii.

This cross showing one of the most beautiful, delicate colorings and I am enjoying its flowers and its perfume. This year this Stanhopea sent 7 flower spikes – the one in the picture is the first one that opened and I am looking forward to its extended flowering period.

Anticipation Time

2007-12-26T12:36:00.000-08:00

For us who grow Stanhopea orchids in Australia, Christmas time is the most exiting period with a lot of anticipation – the earlier varieties starting sending flower spikes through the sides and bottom of the planters. This will continue until about March – April when later flowering varieties start growing their flowers. Even though the flowers short-lived, it’s possible to surround yourself with flowering Stanhopeas for a few months each year.

New Growth

2007-12-24T17:40:00.000-08:00

New flower shoots growing through the bottom and sides of planters

Stanhopea Bellarensis flowering now

2007-12-24T17:20:00.000-08:00

Today my Stanhopea Bellarensis opened its flowers and the whole house is penetrating with heavenly vanilla/ cinnamon scent.

For the past week or so I’ve been watching its 2 x flower spikes growing and flower pods getting bigger and bigger and this morning it rewarded me with these majestic beautiful flowers. Stan. Bellarensis is a hybrid between Stan.Insignis and Stan. Oculata and its certainly exhibiting characteristics of both its parents.