Are phrags hard to grow?

[slipperfreak]

Nope, phrags very tremendously in size. Phrags fischeri, besseae, schlimii, pearcei (one of very few compact long-petalled species but not as compact as the other ones listed here), and dalessandroi (there are more, just can't think of them right now) are compact plants. Most or all Barbara LeAnn clones should be a relatively small size. Almost all the besseae hybrids are not really huge, but most are bigger than the species mentioned or Barbara. It's the long-petalled Phrags that are huge.

[caseydoll]

Thats great that they won't get huge, another bonus! I am so excited to get one. I'm glad that I posted this question because you have really helped me out. Now I think I will order one!

Thank you! Sarah

[Dorothy]

I believe schilimii is fragrant...

[slipperfreak]

Yeah schlimii is about the only Phrag I've ever observed a fragrance in...

[quiltergal]

Sigh... I do love bessea and it's hybrids. I decided to start with a Paph. delenatii as my first slipper and see how that goes. It was way less expensive. I'd just croak if I killed a $60 plant! I still have my sites set on one of the besseas though.

[smartie2000]

I don't have a clue why phrags tend to be more expensive than paphs in most catalogues. I hear they are even easier to flask than paphs....so it makes no sense
There are times when you can really get a good phrag deal though, and they seem much easier to get in USA compared to Canada

[Ironwood]

I think it's because they are becoming more popular and now and there is more demand. That's the way it works in our society, the more popular an item is, the more you can charge for that item.

[smartie2000]

I'm thinking not enough suppliers here in canada....
most of our plants are imported from the states and the big hybridizers are down there.

I heard Chuck Acker was clearing out plants at $12 each a few months back, and I wish I could have got a few...

The cheapest place to get phrags is from the orchid society.

[slipperfreak]

It drives me insane how difficult it is to get any Phrags in Canada... but getting species of any kind (especially Paphs and Phrags) is very difficult. It is nearly impossible to get any Paph or Phrag species unless I get lucky at a society meeting or pay a ton of money to have them imported.