365 days of orchids- day 284 – Stenoglottis longifolia
This species is closely related to Stenoglottis fimbriata (day 272) and is also a terrestrial species from South Africa. It is found on mossy banks in the Drakensberg Mountains and so is a really cool growing orchid. We grow the species in our Temperate section with a minimum winter temperature of 4C and vents that open at 10C. We keep plants wet all summer but let them dry out from the end of December when the leaves turn brown and fall off.
The species differs from Stenoglottis fimbriata in the larger rounder flowers, leaves without spots and generally more robust and larger growth habit. It flowers about a month after Stenoglottis fimbriata from late September through to January.
Join the Discussion
I successfully grow Stenoglottis wood I which is in the same compost that I bought it in years ago. (This a finer compost.) I keep this wet by sitting in water. Will this be OK for fimbrata and longiflolia?
We have grown Stenoglottis fimbriata in several compost options and they should be fine in your com post. We have found that in lest well drained compost there can be an issue with roots rotting in the winter when plants are dormant so I suggest being careful to keep plants dryer in the winter.