On our planet, there are about 30 thousand orchids of various types. These are amazing plants, differing in size, shape and color. And all, without exception, are beautiful. Since ancient times, people have been fascinated by these delightful creatures of nature. Despite the fact that the orchid is a rather capricious flower, it is nevertheless grown at home by exotic lovers. It is provided with the conditions under which it can please one of the coming days with its amazing flowers.
In such a huge family, the genus of orchids stanhopea stands in a separate place, which stands out among others for its very large flowers, the size of which reaches 15-20 cm in diameter.It has an unusual color and, in addition, it has an amazing aroma with chocolate - vanilla notes. This genus of orchids includes about 50 different species. In natural conditions, they are found in the tropical regions of Central and South America. Stangopeia takes root well and develops at home, and with proper care, it will delight the eyes of households and guests with its flowering.
Caring for the stangopeya orchid at home
Temperature
In summer, the stangopea orchid behaves well at a temperature of 23-25 ° C, and in winter - about 17-18 ° C. Crop professionals recommend creating a temperature difference for it during the day, the difference between which should be 3-5 ° C. This will have a beneficial effect on the development of correct flowering. In the summer, on warm days, stangopeia will not be disturbed by fresh open air. You can put it on a balcony (loggia) or hang it on your garden plot, for example, on a tree.
Air humidity
The stangopea orchid loves moisture very much. Therefore, it must be regularly moistened by spraying from a spray bottle. In this case, it is necessary to be very careful and make sure that the drops during the procedure do not fall on the growths and flowers that have just appeared, otherwise they will very quickly begin to rot. Experienced growers of these plants advise using a sprayer with as small holes as possible, as they mimic the dew that falls in the places where this orchid is native.
Pot selection
As a container for a stangopea, the best solution would be to use a plastic or wooden hanging basket. A lattice with large meshes is also suitable for this purpose. Such a device will firmly hold the plant itself, and air will flow unhindered to the root system. Under natural conditions, this orchid is more often found on rocky ledges or in the forks of a tree, and its peduncles look down. That is why, for this flower, an exclusively hanging type container should be chosen for growing.
Earth mix
For the normal development of the plant, you can use two types of earthen mixture:
- Dry foliage, dry tree bark, sphagnum moss.
- Sphagnum moss, fern root, tree bark, charcoal.
For planting stangopea, the second type is more suitable, because the composition of these particular components will be able to provide the substrate with friability and excellent moisture capacity. In addition, it contains a lot of different nutritional ingredients that are so necessary for the stangopea.
Fertilizer
Top dressing is recommended to be carried out exclusively in spring, since during this period the plant grows intensively, and its flowering begins. It must be fed with a complex fertilizer designed specifically for orchids. To do this, you need to take only half of the dosage that is prescribed in the instructions on the package.
Watering
As mentioned above, this plant is far from indifferent to moisture. Therefore, it should be watered systematically and not wait for the soil in the container to dry out. With insufficient watering, the roots of the flower suffer, because of which the leaves begin to deform, and flowering is delayed. Excessive watering also negatively affects the state of the stangopea. The pseudobulbs of the flower become smaller, and the plant itself may not bloom at all.
At the end of autumn, when the dormant season begins, the stangopea ceases to need such abundant moisture and watering must be slightly reduced. It will be correct to water the plant when the soil in the container dries out a little along its edges. Water for watering and spraying the plant should only be used at room temperature. Water can be taken from rainwater, previously settled or boiled.
Diseases and pests
Spider mites or scale insects sometimes settle on the plant. If insects harmful to it are found on the stangopea, then you should carefully wipe the leaves with a soft cloth moistened with a slightly warm soapy neutral solution, and then treat with an insecticide.
Reproduction of the stangopeya orchid
Basically, the stangopeya orchid is propagated by dividing the rhizome into several separate parts. This is one of the most convenient options, as you can get several mature plants at a time. At the same time, the separation of the roots is recommended to be carried out during transplanting a flower into another pot or soil mixture. A transplant is allowed in three years, once and always in the spring.
The rhizome should be divided, adhering to the rule: several pseudobulbs should be located on each separate division. As a tool for this work, you can take a sharp knife, having previously disinfected it. The places cut off at the dealerships must be treated with well-crushed charcoal. This is done in order to prevent infection from entering the plant. Stangopea will bloom in full force only when the rhizome grows and 5-6 pseudobulbs appear, no less. Therefore, it must be placed in a pot with the expectation of growth.
Stangopea is an extraordinarily attractive plant. The orchid is endowed with gorgeous flowers with an artistic color and bizarre shapes, and when the flowers are fully open, it is impossible to take your eyes off them.
