phrag culture wossner supergrande and hirtzii `Fox Valley'

[goofy]

I was very good at keeping myself from buying more orchids for a few months.
But guess what? I just ordered 2 phrags from the Hausermann Nursery:
Phrag. Wossner Supergrande
Phrag. hirtzii `Fox Valley' HCC/AOS

They should arrive my house on Friday.

Now I am terrified. I have no experience with phrag. What do I do with them? What should I use for the medium?
I live in zone 9b. I plan to keep them in the house near the windowsill (west facing).
Please help me to not kill them.
Thanks.

Thuy

[RosieC]

I don't really know the answer so this is a bump

Having said that, my one and only Phag is potted in a mixture of Rock Wool cubes and Bark. That's what it came in from the nursary and they said that the Rock Wool stays damp a lot longer and that Phrags like plenty of moisture (although like all orchids needs a good breathing medium).

I've not had mine long though (end of July) and I'm still pretty frightend of it. I keep it in my living room on the mantle piece because it's still in flower (since I bought it). It probably needs more light than it's getting in the middle of the room, but it's not showing ill effects.

[tuvoc]

I was terrified too when I got my first Phrags. They've turned out to be some of the best growers I have. Your mix sounds fine. As Rosie mentioned, they like to be moist at all times, but not soggy, and will take a lot more light than you might think. Good luck, and be warned, they are VERY addictive.

Kim

[goofy]

Rosie and Kim,
Thanks for the suggestions. So if I give them a lot of light and moisture, I should be ok. I have plenty of room outside in a backyard tent gazebo where I keep some of my oncidiums. I could keep the new phrags there until it gets too cold, then I can take them inside.

Good luck, and be warned, they are VERY addictive.

I am resisting so hard the urge to buy more. I drool when I surf on the internet on Hausermann nursery site.

Thuy