Stan. Oculata

[HHLL38]

After visiting my local orchid nursery that specializes in Paphs, I come home without one at all!

Here's the monster I got instead:



It was potted in a 5" pot and there was no media in it at all, it was all roots! Wish I had snapped a picture of it before I put it into it's new basket and new home.

Here's to hoping I get a hundred flowers!

[Cjcorner]

Looks like a nice healthy one...i'm guessing you will get a ton of flowers next blooming. Nice find!

[pavel]

Stans get some interestingly attractive flowers. Too bad they're such big plants. Ah well, I can still enjoy those of others.

[paphioboy]

Very nice purchase...

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Great orchid addition! Stanhopea orchids are awesome!

cheers,
BD

[Clivedude]

OMG!! what a monster indeed...very nice one to hope it will bloom for you

[opaline]

Beautiful specimen you scored there! Adore the lush jungle vegetation feel these provide especially with sun filtering through. Ensure good air flow. Wished blooms would last longer as they are truly spectacular hanging from bottom of pot! Great find! I would be proud!

[HHLL38]

So this would be considered specimen sized?

In that case it was a great find, what would one expect to pay for a plant this size?

[opaline]

So this would be considered specimen sized?

In that case it was a great find, what would one expect to pay for a plant this size?

With being technical on the 'specimen' size issue I wouldnt want to under or over estimate it and trigger a debate with the serious statistics folk, but its certainly a well established strong healthy flowering size plant. At roughly 12" - 18" possibly more, from base of PB to tip of leaf it a beauty and worthy of a specimen title in my collection anyday. I base this on scale with the phals hoping of course that they are not the miniature Doritis hybrid phals. Price wise is a difficult and varied one as items nowadays are worth what the individual wishes to pay based on varying circumstances i.e difficult or time consuming to source a supplier, exhuberance, financially on a budget or plain insane. Have observed/ wiitnessed anything from £20 - £100 in the west -$?. Could be $5 in malaysian/ thai market stall. I paid £40 for my stanhopea tigrina - 6yrs old 10 or more PBs.

[opaline]

i would like to add though Sam, to put you in the advantage position really and save you the experience I had, that you will notice on researching Stan. care you will notice 2 or 3 repeated pointers of care advice.
- air flow ( as fresh as possible without cold draught) is essential. Stan leaves are highly susceptible to harmful pathogens especially those that are fungal/ bacterial. As with most orchid care cross contamination prevention is standard when cutting/slicing/removing. Sterile equipment etc. Stanhopea leaves dont need any cell membrane damage (sunburn,tears) to become infected with particular harmful fungal pathogens. Still or slow moving humid air is fatal. Use a fan if necessary.

Last season 75% of my stans were wiped out within 2-3 months and whatever and wherever this harmful fungi pathogen came from it meant business. No other orchids or plants were harmed at all and have av 150 mixed orchid species.

The fresh constant air movement is essential and I should have paid more attention.