Do ALL phrags like thier feet wet or just some? - Orchid Board

RosieC · #1 11-06-2010, 11:31 AM

OK, so've I've read in several places now about people keeping phrags with a tray of water under the pot and watering again when that dies out.

Is this something ALL phrags like or just some?

I have a Phrag Paul Eugene Conroy which is wallisii x longifolium. The nursary had it potted with rock wool at the bottom and bark on top.

I've been watering it when I can feel the rock wool at the bottom starting to feel dry (which works out every 2 to 3 weeks). I stick my finger in one of the holes in the bottom of the pot to feel it.

I knew the rock wool was there to help it keep moist at the bottom, but do you think I'm watering too little. (I am worried that a new growth has stalled, although another new growth has just started as well).

I'm rather unsure how to care for this one so any help would be great

cabnc · #2 11-06-2010, 12:03 PM

Read here:

Nancy Volpe's Phrag Culture

I think you are not watering enough.

Charlie

tuvoc · #3 11-06-2010, 12:16 PM

Rosie, I treat all my Phrags the same, sitting in saucers, and kept wet. They seem to be pretty happy so far.

Kim

RosieC · #4 11-06-2010, 03:35 PM

Thanks Charlie and Kim,

Ok, I'll up the water and go with a little water in the bottom as that seems to be what people do with these. Thanks for the advice.

jrodpad · #5 11-06-2010, 09:55 PM

Hi Rosie,

I've got a phrag Eric Young that's in hydrotron - and per the greenhouse's instructions, I water every day. I also leave it in a saucer of water too so that it's feet are wet. Swampy conditions really - and it seems to be thriving.

I've always wondered if all phrags like wet feet or if it was just a subset. Great question.

- J

RosieC · #6 11-07-2010, 05:29 AM

Thanks J,

I quite like the idea of putting it in hydroton then watering every day. I get on well with hydroton for some of my other orchids and it's easier to know it's not rotting in there.

Hmm, well I'm going to need to repot this as some point anyway as it's still in the medium the nursary sold it in, so I'll probably do the same as you.

Ray · #7 11-07-2010, 10:08 AM

Rosie, I have Pul Eugene Conroy in S/H culture, and it loves it.

RosieC · #8 11-07-2010, 10:20 AM

That's really good to know Ray. I will definately transplant this one at some point in that case.

This is just starting a new growth... do new roots follow shortly after that (a bit like Paphs). I'm thinking about the timing of transplanting it, maybe after the new growth is a little bigger

jrodpad · #9 11-07-2010, 02:16 PM

What a great pic Ray. She's a real beaut!

Nice work and great photo.

-J

RosieC · #10 11-10-2010, 03:54 PM

Well I decided to repot today.

I had to break the pot open and when I did I found the following mass of roots. The roots were packed with rockwool, (there was just a thin layer of bark on the surface) and even after 10 days the rockwool was still damp, so I know it's been staying quite damp even with my infrequent watering.

Anyway, once I had it out the pot I had to repot as I had broken the pot getting it out. I've put it in hydroton but as there is no sign of root growth (or very little) I'm not sure if I should go for S/H yet.

I left the root mass as undisturbed as possible just poking out the rockwool and bark as best I could. I had to use a big pot, as it had previously been in a tall pot and to get the height of the roots into any new pot, it had to be pretty big. I'm hoping that it's not too big for hydroton. What do you think?

When I do S/H I use a variant of it where I use an external pot to hold the resevoir. This means that I can water as normal until I think it's time to move to S/H. However as these guys like their feet wet anyway, should I just go for it straight away?