About
This deciduous, terrestrial orchid forming dense basal rosette clusters with slender vivid green leaves to 18cm long and flower stems reaching 22-50cm in height. Masses of pink or light purple flowers in panicles, with a spotted lip, open sequentially over summer and autumn giving an extended flowering period.
About the genus
Stenoglottis are terrestrial or epiphytic orchids with rosettes of spotted leaves from small tubers. Spikes from the centre of the rosette bear small pink or white flowers spotted purple with folded petals and 3-5 lobed lips
Growing conditions
SunlightPartial shade
Soil typeLoam
Soil pHNeutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectNorth-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH1B
Plant details
Plant typeConservatory Greenhouse, Houseplants
HabitColumnar upright
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesPatio and container plants
Native toSouth Africa
Care notes
CultivationCan be grown on a cool windowsill kept below 25°C with a minimum night temperature of 5°C. Compost can be a 50:50 mixture of bark, sphagnum moss or sand or perlite and leaf compost. Plants become dormant after flowering when watering should cease, restarting again when new shoots appear
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationDivision of roots when plant is potted at the end of the dormancy period. Tease out the roots carefully, only discarding any shrivelled ones.
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, glasshouse red spider mite and mealybugs
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free