Recommendations for compact pink Phrag

[LinhT]

Sorry, nobody can take me away from the little striped and bean midgets, unhappykat . I'm not obsessive about the neo flowers, unless it's one of the irregular varieties like Sachikoryu or Hanakanzashi. I grow them mostly for the foliage. However, having a phrag that can stay in bloom for so several years is very tempting.

[taipan]

just my 2 cents worth, I personally would consider Phrag.schlimii,fischerii & andrettae as compact or "tight" growers ie. the new growth comes up alongside the previous growth whereas species like Phr.pearcei, klotchzianum are small growers however as "unhappykat" mentioned they are not "tight" growers but can spread into other pots. Although you may start with a small plant of say Ph.pearcei you may end up with a 12" pot to grow it but it is not a big grower like eg Ph.longifolium

[unhappykat]

Originally Posted by LinhT

A kovachii hybrid would be my "dream phrag". Without a greenhouse and a big space, I don't even want to attempt one. I have heard of wallisii and that one is nice. Ideally, I want to find one that has bright color, weird shape, compact and doesn't require really high humidity. I'll definitely check out all the suggestions you slipper experts gave me. You're all very helpful

Sorry to say but I think you will have to wait a while before you can find a phrag with all your wants. The phragmipediums as a genus are very drab and mostly green. The few exceptions are generally difficult to grow, schlimii, or just too robust to confine to a pot, bessae at times, im sure those breeders in peru are working on you colorful midgets right now but till then you will have to wait. I would really recommend you try one of the species though, my favorite is

IOSPE PHOTOS

but as you said you wont want to strain your neo budget on Beautiful flowers.

[Lagoon]

Some phrags are larger growing then others - sword shaped leaves VS. grass like clumps. I would never say that phrags are small growing plants for sure, some are just more compact then others.

When I look at my wallisii x pearcei cross compared to my lindleyanum x longifolium, the growth is very noticeable. The first is compact grass like growth, the other is very large shaped fans (sword like)

Phrag cape bonanza is a fairly compact grower(compared to many others) pretty pink thing

[Kyle]

Overall a really good thread! Slipperfreak your advice is spot on! Will be at the Calgary show in a couple of weeks?

First, phrag andrettae will produce some small hybrids. But I don't think anyone is using it yet. Plants bloom with a 5 inch leaf span. Hopefully it will transfer that to its progeny. Shape is poor, but the good breeders will make it work.

schlimii is tricky, but would fit your criteria. Plus its fragrant.

besseae is also pretty small. An average grower can get it to bloom, but you have to be a superb grower to turn it into a monster. The climbing sucks. Really sucks.

Phrag dalessandroi is great, gets bigger then besseae, but doesn't climb. Lots of fakes out there...the real thing is expensive. If you live in Canada and want one, PM me.

fisherii is easier to grow then schlimii, about on par with besseae. No climbing. But still rare and expensive. Hybrids seem to be small.

Stay away from wallisii. The smallest long petaled species is still a monster. Its saving grace is that its leaves are upright (like a V). But the beauty of the long petaled on is beyond compare. Its like owning a fast growing, easy to bloom paph sandarianum.

Hybirds are wierd. Two small species can produce huge hybrids, for example Hanne Popow. Hybrids with a huge parent can produce really compact hybrids like schlimii x ricterii (often really big) - the hybrid is smaller then both. Really you have to do some research (like you've done starting this thread). If you can buy a division of compact plant I would go for that instead of a seedling that may be small.

A really dependable compact hybrid is Olaf Gruss - besseae x pearcii. Plus Olaf is a really nice guy...

[unhappykat]

Originally Posted by Kyle

Overall a really good thread! Slipperfreak your advice is spot on! Will be at the Calgary show in a couple of weeks?

First, phrag andrettae will produce some small hybrids. But I don't think anyone is using it yet. Plants bloom with a 5 inch leaf span. Hopefully it will transfer that to its progeny. Shape is poor, but the good breeders will make it work.

schlimii is tricky, but would fit your criteria. Plus its fragrant.

besseae is also pretty small. An average grower can get it to bloom, but you have to be a superb grower to turn it into a monster. The climbing sucks. Really sucks.

Phrag dalessandroi is great, gets bigger then besseae, but doesn't climb. Lots of fakes out there...the real thing is expensive. If you live in Canada and want one, PM me.

fisherii is easier to grow then schlimii, about on par with besseae. No climbing. But still rare and expensive. Hybrids seem to be small.

Stay away from wallisii. The smallest long petaled species is still a monster. Its saving grace is that its leaves are upright (like a V). But the beauty of the long petaled on is beyond compare. Its like owning a fast growing, easy to bloom paph sandarianum.

Hybirds are wierd. Two small species can produce huge hybrids, for example Hanne Popow. Hybrids with a huge parent can produce really compact hybrids like schlimii x ricterii (often really big) - the hybrid is smaller then both. Really you have to do some research (like you've done starting this thread). If you can buy a division of compact plant I would go for that instead of a seedling that may be small.

A really dependable compact hybrid is Olaf Gruss - besseae x pearcii. Plus Olaf is a really nice guy...

Why do you have to live in canada!!!!!!!!!!? I want a dalessandroi!!!!!!! They just arent around here!!!

WHY!!!!!!!!!!!?

[shakkai]

So!! What did you end up getting???!

Some wonderful suggestions here by everyone!

I can second Kyle's recommendation for Olaf Gruss. Its a really pretty flower, and all that I have seen are relatively compact plants. Colour seems to be quite variable within the grex, but the nicest ones are really scrumptious. Here's one that I particularly liked:


My pearcii is a very small plant for a Phrag - about the size of an Amami Island Neo. I just hope one day I will get to see it flower!!!

[LinhT]

Wow! So many helpful suggestions from everyone! . Sorry to be anti-climactic (sp?) but I ended up getting a Paph delenatii ('Rose Bud x 'My Fair Lady') and NO phrag

I guess there's a cross still in flasks of Beverly Fischer x Rob's Choice at OL. I want to wait and see how those turn out. In the meantime, I will do more research and google everyone's suggestions. (once I stop sniffing my delenatii ten times a day).

[LinhT]

Originally Posted by unhappykat

Sorry to say but I think you will have to wait a while before you can find a phrag with all your wants. The phragmipediums as a genus are very drab and mostly green. The few exceptions are generally difficult to grow, schlimii, or just too robust to confine to a pot, bessae at times, im sure those breeders in peru are working on you colorful midgets right now but till then you will have to wait. I would really recommend you try one of the species though, my favorite is

IOSPE PHOTOS

but as you said you wont want to strain your neo budget on Beautiful flowers.

That does look like maybe a somewhat smaller plant. Those "tentacles", not sure what they're called, are crazy . Amazing! I do like it.

[quiltergal]

Linn, you have gotten some excellent advice. I have Phrag. Jason Fischer which is relatively compact (for a Phrag.) and Phrag. Sedenii. The Sedenii is my favorite (my avatar), but it is a rambler. It's not tall but I can see the potential for a large spread on it. It sits in a bowl of water all the time and seems very happy, in fact a little too happy!

Shannon thanks for posting the pic of Olaf. That's a really pretty cross. I must look for that one.