Phragmipedium grown as a Bog plant?

[Optimist]

It seem they like wet roots and can tolerate nearly cattleya light. I've been growing them in nearly water culture so far. I am wondering if I can grow them in a built up area of a pond? In the pond (aka horse trough) I have sarracinia, Louisiana Iris growing in "pond" or bog culture. I'd like to get some other water plants this year. No fish or turtles. I just keep the small pond as a drinking hole for passing birds.

[Ray]

Might be worth a try. My only concern might be the relative oxygenation level of the water. Is it moving at all?

[estación seca]

People grow some very sensitive bog plants. like Heliamphora carnivorous pitcher plants, in "to-and-fro" systems. The water is circulated back and forth through a relatively small root area. The Phrags I've seen in habitat photos (never been there) grow on mossy rock faces with cascading sheets of water, or next to flowing streams. You might be able to duplicate this by diverting some outflow from a pump over the Phrag medium.

[D_novice]

Originally Posted by estación seca

People grow some very sensitive bog plants. like Heliamphora carnivorous pitcher plants, in "to-and-fro" systems. The water is circulated back and forth through a relatively small root area. The Phrags I've seen in habitat photos (never been there) grow on mossy rock faces with cascading sheets of water, or next to flowing streams. You might be able to duplicate this by diverting some outflow from a pump over the Phrag medium.

I will report back to everyone next month, I am going to Colombia and am visiting Phrag habitat . But if you read up, they grow in saturated conditions.

I grow mine in humidity trays with the grate removed, so 2.75" of water, and until I recently put in a small aquarium pump, it was standing water. I don't think it's hurt the plants, and another excellent grower locally also has her phrags in standing water.

I saw another facility where they move their phrags into a basin for a few hours, then flood it with water, drain it, flood it again, repeat. Seems silly in a drought prone area but people will do anything for their orchids.

[Optimist]

I have a solar powered pond fountain in it. Is that okay?

[estación seca]

I don't know! Remember, pioneers are the ones with arrows in their backs.

[isurus79]

Only one way to find out if this work. Try it!

I think moving, well oxygenated water would be the key to success though.

[Optimist]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Only one way to find out if this work. Try it!

I think moving, well oxygenated water would be the key to success though.

However, I must point out that for over a year at least 2 have thrived in a plain old wet pot-- no oxigenation. I know what you mean though. I was not planning on sticking the whole plant in water. Much too expensive for that, Just the bottoms of the mesh pots.

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by Optimist

However, I must point out that for over a year at least 2 have thrived in a plain old wet pot-- no oxigenation. I know what you mean though. I was not planning on sticking the whole plant in water. Much too expensive for that, Just the bottoms of the mesh pots.

Perhaps a small pump on a timer to run water through the pots on a regular basis?

[Justinjames]

I have a collection of phrags and paphs, both seedlings and and mature in net baskets with leca. I've got them in a flood table. First i went with an ebb and flow system and now a drip system due to the growing diversity of the plants. I've had the experiment going for a year now and keep building it out. I have had a lot of success with it. The seedlings are growing much faster than before the hydro, and the much more mature plants seem to as well. Anyway I like it, I don't have to water them.... computer does it for me.

That's my experience with phrags and water culture.


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