Cultural conditions for Phragmipedium humboldtii

[piping plover]

Hello All,

This is my first Phragmipedium.
I have been trying to find information on where and how this species humboldtii grows naturally. All I have found is Central America. Cultivar is 'Fortuna.’

Does that seem accurate? Is it low elevation or high elevation? Will it appreciate cooler temperatures in general or in evenings? Or should I keep it phaleonopsis - like warm temperatures?

I initially treated it like a phaleonopsis. As I understood it, my cattleya and vanda conditions are too bright for it.

I also watered it daily with rainwater and kept a saucer beneath with small amounts of water and emptied daily to keep fresh. Is this recommended culture for this species? Should I allow it to dry out any?

Is this one of those that would appreciate lime in the mix to raise pH?

Complicating things, I believe it had a poor root system and was wobbly in pot at purchase. Pretty much all looked that way and I attributed it to recent divisions transplanting. So, maybe my daily watering made things worse. A Few brown turgid, firm roots, nothing new looking. I down sized the pot and cut off older yellow leaves on the fans and yellowing tips.

Small plantlets emerging at base.

Please steer me in the right direction.

Thank you!





Phragmipedium humboldtii 'Fortuna'

[Roberta]

Phrag humboldtii (Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama from IOSPE) Orchidwiz says "Wet montaine rainforests and elfin forests, elevations around 950 to 1350 [1700] meters." Orchidwiz quotes IOSPE but it's different so maybe that may be old info.

Phrags like to stay wet, neeed good water.You don't want to add anything to the water, no lime - very different from Paphs in that regard. Rainwater sounds perfect. Lots of people use the saucer technique - they are thirsty, should never dry out. If those elevation numbers are right, it can take cool nights. But I'm not so sure, since IOSPE doesn't have that info any more, may not be accurate (Jay Pfahl updates IOSPE when he gets new info, Orchidwiz new info may not get captured) . Most Phrags that I know about like to be on the warmish side - not necessarily as warm as a Phal, but nights above 55 deg F or so should be fine. Relatively low light, bit brighter than a Phal... Andy's Orchids says "Bright, indrect light" and warm/intermediate, which may not be precise but tracks pretty well with the rest of my guesses.

[piping plover]

Thank you Roberta!
I greatly appreciate the extra research and information that you have provided. This will save my phrag from enduring too many beginner’s mistakes; and save me from having a reactive, chaotic culture for the plant.

Best,
Joseph

Originally Posted by Roberta

Phrag humboldtii (Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama from IOSPE) Orchidwiz says "Wet montaine rainforests and elfin forests, elevations around 950 to 1350 [1700] meters." Orchidwiz quotes IOSPE but it's different so maybe that may be old info.

Phrags like to stay wet, neeed good water.You don't want to add anything to the water, no lime - very different from Paphs in that regard. Rainwater sounds perfect. Lots of people use the saucer technique - they are thirsty, should never dry out. If those elevation numbers are right, it can take cool nights. But I'm not so sure, since IOSPE doesn't have that info any more, may not be accurate (Jay Pfahl updates IOSPE when he gets new info, Orchidwiz new info may not get captured) . Most Phrags that I know about like to be on the warmish side - not necessarily as warm as a Phal, but nights above 55 deg F or so should be fine. Relatively low light, bit brighter than a Phal... Andy's Orchids says "Bright, indrect light" and warm/intermediate, which may not be precise but tracks pretty well with the rest of my guesses.

[Ray]

There are a few phrags that prefer it cooler, besseae and definitely kovachii, for example, but for the most part, they seem fine with moderate temperatures.

I grow mine in semi-hydroponics, summering outdoors here in NC, right alongside paphs and phals.

[piping plover]

Hi Ray,

Thanks for the information. Knowing that you grow them along-side the phals is a good reference point for me.

I watched an ecuagenera video on the besseae, and If I remember correctly, that was the species that grew at the bottom of limestone cliffs, collecting the dripping cool water. I think that is the species that ecuagenera uses in their logo graphic.

Best,
Joseph

Originally Posted by Ray

There are a few phrags that prefer it cooler, besseae and definitely kovachii, for example, but for the most part, they seem fine with moderate temperatures.

I grow mine in semi-hydroponics, summering outdoors here in NC, right alongside paphs and phals.

[Roberta]

I saw Phrag besseae growing in Ecuador on road cuts, on cliffs with running water (even quite exposed)... Pretty sure the rocks are volcanic not limestone. But they seemed to grow wherever there was running water in their habitat area.

[piping plover]

How fascinating (and informing!) to see orchids growing in their native habitat. That must have been a very memorable trip. I see that ecuagenera offers orchid tours in the surrounding areas in Ecuador; would enjoy doing that type of travel sometime.

Originally Posted by Roberta

I saw Phrag besseae growing in Ecuador on road cuts, on cliffs with running water (even quite exposed)... Pretty sure the rocks are volcanic not limestone. But they seemed to grow wherever there was running water in their habitat area.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by piping plover

How fascinating (and informing!) to see orchids growing in their native habitat. That must have been a very memorable trip. I see that ecuagenera offers orchid tours in the surrounding areas in Ecuador; would enjoy doing that type of travel sometime.

Put it on your bucket list! That Ecuador trip (which was organized by Ecuagenera) was life-changing in my ability to grow Andean orchids. When you see and feel the habitat, you gain insights. And the country is incredibly rich in orchid species. Little hiking required, there are plenty growing wild right by the roads.

[piping plover]

Ahh, so you have experienced their tour. Fantastic. Well, hearing this from you, Roberta, is a real affirmation to the quality of the tour. You always have such interesting and useful information to share with us on a wide variety of orchid topics.

And yes, between my orchid trips and international Palm Society trip opportunities, it’s good to look forward to interesting tropical places to see plants in-situ.

Originally Posted by Roberta

Put it on your bucket list! That Ecuador trip (which was organized by Ecuagenera) was life-changing in my ability to grow Andean orchids. When you see and feel the habitat, you gain insights. And the country is incredibly rich in orchid species. Little hiking required, there are plenty growing wild right by the roads.

[Roberta]

I have done a lot of traveling, and I still think that the Ecuador trip was the best. My "ah-ha" moment was when I walked into the living room of Pepe Portilla, the owner of Ecuagenera (have known him for many years) and saw lots of big, happy, blooming standard Cymbidiums! I had thought that the higher-elevation climate was very even in temperature and always cool. (Gualaceo is at about 8000 feet) But Cyms need a large temperature gradient in the fall to bloom, and these were clearly getting what they needed. Ecuagenera has nurseries at different elevations, so they grow each type where it grows easily. (They of course grow the wide variety of species that we all love, they also grow hybrids for the pot-plant trade all over South America) It is a small country, but has a huge range of elevations (sea level to above tree-line) and matching range of climates and ecosystems, and probably the highest biodiversity anywhere in the world. (Well over 4000 orchid species!)