Looking for a red Phrag...

[Bill U.]

Hi everyone!

I have been browsing through the different "ultimate orchid collection" lists and I have fallen in love with Phrags., especially those of they phrag besseae hybrid variety for their hardyness and fitting my growing conditions.

I am looking for a bright crimson red phrag- such as phrag besseae, phrag jason fisher, or phrag inca fire.

I'm looking for a plant that is either blooming size or within a year of blooming that is as inexpensive as possible! I currently only have phals in my collection and I would love to expand (typical grower, I know ).

If you have any other hybrids to suggest, or know where I can find some of these, I would greatly appreciate it!!!

[ginnibug]

I think that just about all I had were phals when I saw my first phrag, it was love at first sight!!!

You are up in Chicago, my suggestion would be to go and visit the Chicagoland growers during their September Orchidfest. You should be able to pick out something reasonable at Nat's AND they served really good potstickers when our group was there last.I only have 7 phrags at the moment, but snag any one that interests me.

Beware! It will be a different growing technique, phrags love their water. Nice clean water; although I grow most of mine sitting in a saucer of water. Happy Hunting! ginnibug

[RosieC]

I have Phrag Memoria Dick Clements and love it. Bright red... it's a primary hybrid of besseae and a parent of Jason Fischer.

It wasn't expensive when I found it here in the UK, but don't know what it's like over there. It's a nice hybrid, grows well for me, in spite of my less than ideal care.

[Orquiadicto]

I only have this Phragmipedium calurum that I bought in bud last october. It has since grown variuos fans but no sign of spike yet. I hope I can get her to re bloom.

[Bill U.]

Thanks for the responses everyone! I was able to find an online seller that has some besseae crosses for $25!

My next question is for everyone that has grown/is growing phrags- I know that they are very water loving plants and like to keep their "feet" wet, but what potting medium would you recommend? Some culture guides say bark, some say S/H, and then others have said that it's possible to use a mix of sphagnum and some perlite or growing rocks? Is one really better than the other?

I don't want to buy a new plant and then kill it because I didn't know how to care for it correctly...

[RosieC]

I grow my besseae hybrid in a light compost/perlite mix (which is what I received it in) but I'm planning to move it to S/H because my other phrag does really well in that and I'm more comfortable about watering that way.

My Phrag in S/H grows really well, and I am confortable about leaving it with water in the bottom. I think from what I've read that leaving water in the bottom is always good for Phrags, but I'm always worried about doing it for the one in compost.

[dounoharm]

i grow my phrags in a small bark perlite charcoal mix and they do quite well.....always keep them semi wet, and a sacuer of water under most......gl

[Bill U.]

Rosie- I have heard lots of good things about S/H and phrags, especially from Ray's site. I was thinking about trying to grow it in S/H, but I am very cautious about it just because I have finally just gotten the hang of growing in my sphag mix media for my phals haha. But it's definitely something that I'm going to be looking in to!
Dounoharm- that it what I have been reading that a lot of phrag growers use for their phrags to keep them nice and wet. Thanks for the suggestion!

[Orquiadicto]

My only phrag has got a lot of fans, so I might finaly decide to try S/H with a couple of them and leave the rest in medium. This way I could se the difference. How many fans should I keep together? Does here also exist the risk of overpotting, or is that no subject with S/H?

[RosieC]

S/H generally does not have a problem of overpotting. I'm afraid I don't know how many fans should be in a division as I tend to keep mine together even when big so I've never tried dividing.