Are phrags hard to grow?

[caseydoll]

I really love phrag. fischeri and was considering purchasing one. However it's a little pricey for me and before I take the plunge I thought I would ask about them. I mostly have phals so I don't want to make any mistakes if I were to get the phrag. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated! I have read up on them but I think some of your opinions would be much better then what I have read so far. (When reading about them all orchids SEEM fairly easy )

Thanks!
Sarah

[slipperfreak]

Well many Phrags are easy, some Phrags are harder. Phrag. fischeri is not the easiest Phrag to grow, but I can't say it's extremely difficult either. If you have no experience with Phrags though, I would recommend a besseae influence hybrid like Don Wimber, Ecua-bess or Eric Young. Those guys are pretty hard to go wrong with. Take a look at my care sheet on Phrags! Link: http://www.orchidboard.com/care-grow...-phragmipedium

[caseydoll]

Thank you Joe for responding. Your care sheet was really helpful! Would the phrag fischeri be considered moisure loving or dry growing? Sorry if that is a silly question! Thanks again!

Sarah

[slipperfreak]

Oh that's not a silly question at all! Phrag fischeri is a wet-growing Phrag. It also likes fairly hard water (likes minerals). You can even add lime or oyster shells as a top dressing. It also likes intermediate temps; cool temps produce better flowers but it becomes prone to rot in such a situation so you have to be careful. Make sure it gets lots of air movement, 50-70% humidity and low-moderate light (about 1000-1200 footcandles, or slightly brighter than Phals). If you get one, good luck and I'm sure you'll do fine; I don't want to scare you away from it it's just harder to lose one of the hybrids I mentioned earlier.

[Dorothy]

The bessaeas are beauties, too!
They are very colorful and have magnificent form!
Go for it! Sarah!

[caseydoll]

Joe, thanks for the great info! I think that maybe I will go for a hybrid first then after I build a little confidence I will get the fischeri. I just thought they were so pretty. The site I was looking at didn't have pics of the ones you recommended so I will look for one so I at least know what they look like. I just love slippers and have been wanting to try a phrag for awhile now. I definately need all the advice I can get so you aren't scaring me off by telling me about the fischeri. I appreciate the info.
Dorothy, thanks for the encouragement, I need it!

Sarah

[slipperfreak]

Sarah, I'd like to make another recommendation: the hybrid Phrag. Barbara LeAnn is a hybrid between besseae and fischeri. It resembles fischeri more than the other besseae hybrids and is easy to grow.

[Lagoon]

Sounds like a plan, Sarah.

You can get the same results starting off with a phrag lower in price.
if you find another that you have your eyes set on ...... why not come on back here and ask abit about it.
These slipper are NOT hard to grow, some need more space then others, some need more light then others.
All phrags love water -- these are much more difficult then many other orchids to overwater.

GO FOR IT!

[Dorothy]

Sarah
Feast your EYES!
Orchid Photo Galleries - Phragmipedium / Phrag. species and Hybrids.

The photos on this site don't do justice to the colors
Go to my Gallery to the NY Orchid Show Album
I photographed a few there and you'll see what I mean!

[caseydoll]

Originally Posted by slipperfreak

Sarah, I'd like to make another recommendation: the hybrid Phrag. Barbara LeAnn is a hybrid between besseae and fischeri. It resembles fischeri more than the other besseae hybrids and is easy to grow.

I love that one! I think that may be the winner. Do all phrags get pretty big? I really don't care because I love them so much that I would make room.
Thanks for the great link Dorothy! You're right, compared to your gallery pics the colors don't do them justice.

Sarah