Stanhopea wardii

[Mrobert]

My stanhopea's second batch of flowers just opened. I grow it outside, and only bring it in if temperatures are going below 50F.

It's location outside:

[ischel1]

What a neat plant! Congrats!!!

[Piper]

How long do the blooms last? They're quite brief aren't they? I have two different species, but neither has bloomed for me yet.

McJulie

[Mrobert]

Unfortunately no more than two weeks. The smell is amazing, spicy, sweet, musky; you'll remember it forever.

[mycologist]

May be a while here - that plant is 10x the size of mine.

[Piper]

Some of the Stan species' blooms only last 2 days - that's why I was asking. Two weeks is a lifetime!

McJulie

[Brutal_Dreamer]

It is brilliant!

Cheers,
BD

[Mrobert]

May be a while here - that plant is 10x the size of mine.

I have to admit that I bought it that size. It wasn't cheap but it did have 3 spikes (are they called spikes if they plow out of the bottom of the "pot"?) and loads of new growth.

[Piper]

Yup, they're still spikes. That's what Stan's do!

And Bruce is right - they're lovely blooms!

McJulie

[Mrobert]

How low should I dare go with temperatures? The plant was raised in S.California (Santa Barbara) which is moderately warmer than it is here. We're consistently seeing 50F minimums at night.

In any event, I can confirm that the bloom have their strongest scent during day-3. I can smell them in still air at about 20 feet!