Upside Down Orchid (Stanhopea) There are 70 species of this curious epiphytic orchid from the jungles of tropical America where Upside-down Orchid, Stanhopeas, grow high up in the trees, nourished by decomposing leaves. The flower spike grows down, so it must be planted in a wire or bark basket, nothing solid, so the bud can push its way through. It only lasts a few days.
Line your basket with fibre or sphagnum moss and fill it with a mix of bark chips, tree-fern chunks, charcoal and leaf mould. Keep your orchid well watered through dry spells.
S. nigroviolacea is the most common species in cultivation. Yellow-green flowers are heavily blotched with dark reddish brown with powerful vanilla scent.
*Images supplied from the Garden Clinic Archive and Max Redman (Garden Clinic Listener)
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