Stenoglottis longifolia

We have been growing Stenoglottis longifolia since the early 1990's when I was given a pot of seedlings from nurseryman Keith Andrew. It is an orchid we would never be without, easy to grow and reliable with long flowerspikes (as implied by the name) every autumn.

Stenoglottis longifolia is a terrestrial species from South Africa. It is found on mossy banks in the Drakensberg Mountains and so is a cool growing orchid. 

We have grown the species in a frost free greenhouse successfully but we find that the species grows very well with a minimum of 7C in our Himalayas Greenhouse.

Plants are very seasonal and we keep plants wet all summer but let them dry out from the end of December when the leaves turn brown and fall off. We start watering again around mid February but sparingly until growth is underway in March.