Growing Phrag Caudatum Sanderae in No Medium

[dianecty]

Hi guys! I have just purchased a blooming sized Phrag Caudatum Sanderae and am very excited! Do you have any special care tips to suggest?

I grow all my orchids with no medium - phals, oncidium, vanda, dends with no medium. Would it be ok for me to put no medium in the pot for my phrag. I do this because the orchids will always have air circulation and will never be overwatered.

I don't want my very expensive phrag to die!!

Any tips?

Thanks guys!!

[Gin]

Hi ,
Mine are in bark the caudatum can dry a little more then some of the others but not bone dry .
Phrags. like water with the long leaves they use water at a fairly fast rate . With no medium I don't see how you could supply them with what they need . Gin

[dave b]

I havent grown P. caudatum species, but a good grower in our society does. He grows them in hanging wood slat baskets, with sphagnum moss. This is the only Phrag he grows in this manner. He swears by it.

I dont think growing with no media would be easy or best. Technically its possible, if the plant was firmly attached to its basket or pot, and watered more frequently. Your air flow and humidity levels would dictate your watering.

[Lagoon]

I just can't see this Phrags are water lovers, they thrive keeping their roots constantly moist.
I grow mine in sphag with add coarse rok and still have to drench them 3 times per week and their over-potted.

[dianecty]

Maybe I should just put it in a basket and put in a layer of lava rock and then some sphag on top and then put the phrag on top of that. Would that be ok?

[quiltergal]

I just don't see this being successful for you. That medium will dry much too quickly. I have a Phrag. Sedenii that has longifolium as a parent. That plant is potted in fine CHC, and it sits in a bowl of fertilized water all week and sips to it's heart's content. Same with my Jason Fischer. Remember these guys are semi-terrestrial, so you can't treat them the same way you would epiphytes. You need to adjust your culture to fit the plant not vice versa.

[dianecty]

Hi Quiltergal!! I'm wondering if your pot is sitting right in the water the whole day as you say? It doens't get overwatered and the roots don't rot?

What is CHC?

Thanks

Diane

[quiltergal]

Yep the Sedenii sits in a bowl of water all week all the time. It's a water hog, and it's growing like a weed. I don't ever worry about root rot on that one. The Jason Fischer I do two days in the bowl of water and 2 days out. Seems to be working.

[dianecty]

Hi, Quiltergal! Thanks for your advice. What would you suggest for my Phrag CaudatumxSanderae? How many days a week should it sit in the water?

Can I keep it outside while it sits in the water?

Thanks

Diane