Care tips for a Phrag, Appalachian Sunset. - Orchid Board

OrchidObsessed · #1 01-19-2011, 10:06 PM

Hi All,

I finally got a Phrag that I have had on order for a while. They are almost impossible to get in New Zealand.

Any tips on how to care for them would be appreciated. I currently have her (all my chids are female

) sitting in about an inch of water on the bottom and am wondering how often to water her as they like to be 'wet'.

Any tips (water, light, fertilizer, etc...) on how to care for these gorgeous chids would be much appreciated.

RosieC · #2 01-20-2011, 07:02 AM

I'm still really learning on these myself.

I have one in S/H which I water once a week, or sooner if the resevoir in the bottom is dry... but then S/H is different to other ways of growing anyway and the lecca wicks up the water in the bottom all the time so it never really dries.

The other is in a very soft mixture of peat stuff, crumbled moss, fine bark and perlite. It's not my mix so I'm just gussing. That stays damp a long time and I think was chosen by the grower because of that. However it's also very well draining and feels light and airy. I don't keep water in the bottom of that one, but water when the top of the medium starts to feel slightly dry to the touch. I never let the medium get to the point it feels really dry.

I've not had either more than a year yet though so I'm still not really sure... they are both showing signs of growth though so I take that as a good sign.

tuvoc · #3 01-20-2011, 10:50 AM

I give mine almost Cattleya light, feed very weakly every other watering, and let the water in the saucer dry up totally, before watering again. BTW, great looking Phrag.

Kim

quiltingwacko · #4 01-20-2011, 11:36 AM

I love phrags. What a beauty! All of mine like to be sloppy wet. Some are touchy about water quality. Carol

quiltergal · #5 01-20-2011, 04:21 PM

I keep all of mine standing in saucers of distilled or RO water. As Carol mentioned they are pretty sensitive to water quality. Mine get fertilized every second or third watering. To stong a solution, too often will lead to burned leaf tips.

OrchidObsessed · #6 01-20-2011, 11:24 PM

Thanks for the info guys.

I am feeling a little less insecure about how to look after her now.

As to water quality, New Zealand has excellent water quality and the grower I acquired her from uses plain ol' tap water in his nursery for all his plants, so it shouldn't be a problem at my house as I have the same water he does.

Rosie~ Good luck with getting your Phrag to rebloom! S/H interests me as it seems to take out a lot the guessing game from watering the chids. I'll be reading the forum to gather more info before I make a choice.

RosieC · #7 01-21-2011, 07:24 AM

I've had good Phal success in S/H and an almost dead Zygo is seeming to like it and is recovering. I tried the Phrag because Ray said he had exactly the same hybrid growing well in S/H. It seems to be doing well so far, it's growing at the momment which I take as a good sign.

OrchidObsessed · #8 01-21-2011, 06:14 PM

I am bit leery about repotting them currently, and have yet to find a good supplier for the LECA here in NZ. When I do, I'll repot one or two and see how it goes. Currently most of them are recovering from being underwatered and underfed while I was away on holiday, and I don't want to do anything to disturb them too much.

I already repotted one poor baby as she had fungus on her roots in a bad way. She is now losing all her blooms.