Stanhopea wardii

Stanhopea wardii is a great introduction to the weirder side of the orchid family. If you've mastered Phalaenopsis culture and want to try something you won't find at your local home improvement store these are the plants for you. Flowers are short-lived but they make up for it by being huge and intoxicatingly fragrant. 

Stanhopea wardii and their relatives bloom from pendulous spikes at the base of the plant, so they need to be grown in baskets once they mature to give the spike an opening to travel through and develop. Keep them warm, grow them in bright shade with constant moisture and plenty of fertilizer. Please note that Stanhopea and their relatives have very thin, delicate leaves. It is common for older leaves to tear or have some spotting, this does not harm the plant.