The Stangopea or Bull Orchid (STANHOPEA) is a large and fairly popular genus of epiphytic orchids found in rainforests from Mexico to Brazil. We bring to your attention photos of epiphytic orchids, their descriptions, as well as recommendations for caring for stangopeans.
The plants are widely cultivated for their large and unusual flowers with a strong aroma. Flowering lasts 2-3 days. Peduncles grow vertically downward, have a length of 10 to 25 cm, depending on the species. The name of the genus is given in honor of the English Earl of Stangopsky (Philip Henry Stanhope) – the president of the London Medical Botanical Society.
As you can see in the photo, all epiphytic orchids have horn-like outgrowths on the middle part of the flower lip, for which the people call the stangopea “bull orchid”:
Tiger stangopea and her photo
Most popular in culture stangopea tiger (Stanhopea tigrina), originally from Mexico. It is more often found in the collections of amateur florists. It blooms with large flowers up to 16 cm in diameter, collected in inflorescences of 2-4 pieces.
Pay attention to the photo of the tiger stangopea: the main tone of the flowers is yellow; on the petals there are many decorative red, often merging spots. The tiger stangopea blooms in the middle of summer.
Epiphytic orchids of other colors
Stangopea black-purple (Stanhopea nigroviolacea) Is an orchid native to Mexico that blooms in the summer. The flowers are yellowish-green, densely covered with dark brown spots and other colors. Flowers with a strong vanilla aroma.
Stangopeia ophthalmic (Stanhopea oculata) Is a type of orchid that grows from Mexico to Brazil. Up to 8 yellow flowers with small purple spots bloom on the peduncle. The lip also has a red speck, orange at the base.
Stangopea snow white (Stanhopea candida) – orchids with ovoid pseudobulbs, slightly elongated at the ends, bearing one elliptical leaf 30 cm long. The peduncle grows downward and reaches 8-10 cm in length, bears one to three pure white flowers (6 cm in diameter) with an unusual greenish lip. Blooms in spring.
Stangopea care
Stangopeia are best grown in hanging baskets so that their lowered stalks can pass through the substrate and become covered with beautiful flowers. For planting, sphagnum moss or even a ready-made substrate for cymbidiums is suitable.
Caring for the stangopea requires adherence to certain temperature conditions. In summer, plants are kept at a temperature of + 20 … + 27 ° C, upon completion of growth, from November to April, the temperature is lowered to + 10 … + 15 ° C.
Plants prefer moist conditions throughout the year and a semi-shady location. In summer, watering is carried out regularly (1-2 times a week), slightly drying the substrate between waterings; in winter, watering is reduced to 1-2 times a month.
