The genus Stanhopea, previously also known as Ceratochilus, Stanhopeastrum, Gerlachia or Tadeastrum, belongs to the Orchidaceae family and was described by William Jackson Hooker in 1829, who named the genus in honor of the fourth Earl of Stanhope (Philip Henry Stanhope), president of the Medico-Botanical Society of London. The natural area of ​​the Stanhopea genus includes Mexico, up to the northwest of Argentina, in Central and South America, where it inhabits humid forests at altitudes from sea level to over 5000 m.

Most species of Stanhopea bloom in summer and only some in autumn . The flowers, strongly scented , have a short persistence, lasting only 3-4 days, and generally emerge through the lower area of ​​the planting baskets, creating the impression that the plants are overturned. The perfume suggests spicy nuances, and Stanhopea species are known for successive flowering, repeated several times during the year

The species of the genus Stanhopea have epiphytic growth, being occasionally terrestrial. It has ovate pseudobulbs, with a single long, elliptical leaf, inserted apically. In the natural environment, the aerial roots of species of this genus often grow upwards, giving rise to a nest-shaped formation, in which dead leaves and dust gather, thus providing nutrients to the plants.

The light intensity requirements of the Stanhopea species are in the area of ​​diffused but strong light, approximately 25,000 - 30,000 lux, similar to Cattleya species, but avoiding direct sunlight, which can cause serious sunburn on the leaves. It is advisable to provide additional shading during the summer, when daytime temperatures exceed 34 degrees Celsius.

The growth temperature , which reflects the origin of the Stanhopea species from tropical and subtropical regions, but at the same time the occupation of some mountain areas, of high altitude, is generally located in the register of low temperatures. Some tropical species, such as Stanhopea annulata, avicula, candida, cirrhata, ecornuta and grandiflora require night temperatures above 18 °C to ensure successful flowering. As a general rule, most tropical species require minimum night temperatures of 12 °C. The higher temperatures can reach the limit of 30 - 35 °C without raising particular problems for these species.

The Stanhopea orchid generally requires a high level of atmospheric humidity throughout the year, which is why frequent spraying during the summer is recommended. Due to the high level of humidity required by these species, it is recommended to ensure very good ventilation, to prevent the development of fungal and bacterial diseases.

The ideal growing method for the Stanhopea orchid involves placing the plants in a wire basket with large holes, at least 1 cm in diameter, which will allow the hanging flowers to penetrate the base of the culture container. Wooden baskets and standard pots can prevent this, leading to failures in the case of flowering. As a substrate , you can use coconut fiber, medium to small-grained pine bark, ideally mixed with sphagnum moss, perlite or Osmunda fern fibers, to ensure a loose, aerated, light culture medium, with very low compaction and strong drainage. The most impressive blooms are obtained from large, vigorous specimens, which is why it is not recommended to divide the species of the Stanhopea genus excessively.

Replantings will be carried out with a low frequency, approximately every 3 years, and will usually be avoided, as they can delay flowering by up to 12 months. The ideal time to carry out this intervention is summer, immediately after the end of flowering.

Irrigation can be carried out with a frequency of 2-3 times a week in the warm season (the temperature-humidity ratio is monitored), and will be accompanied by daily spraying during the very hot period, to ensure a constant humidity. During the cold season, avoid watering the leaves, as this can lead to bacterial spotting of the leaves. For species of Central American origin, complete drying of the substrate will never be allowed during the winter, as the plants are very sensitive to the accumulation of salts in the substrate. Some species, such as Stanhopea hernandezii, insignis, jenischiama, leitzei, maculosa and martiana come from regions with dry winters, which is why it is recommended to reduce irrigation and provide a high level of light during the winter. For these species, the normal watering scheme will be returned once, in the spring, the start of new growth is noticed.

Fertilization is carried out at regular intervals, with a dilution of 25% of the dosage recommended on the package, every 2 weeks. For plants grown in the bark, a formula of 30 – 10 – 10, rich in nitrogen, will be used, alternatively with a balanced formula of 20 – 20 – 20. For the flowering season, a formula of 10 – 30 – 20, to stimulate flowering.

The Stanhopea orchid does not require a rest period to stimulate flowering, and no rest in the cold season. Failed flowering is most often due to insufficient irrigation during the summer, weak temperature differences from day to night in spring, or too low humidity.

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