Phrag Eumelia Arias

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by The Orchid Boy

I know this thread is a little older but I've got to say- WOW! I love it! I only recently found out about this cross and I'm going to get one from Orchid Inn.

NYCorchidman, is your plant still well? Get your questions answered?

I know about light, water quality, fertilization, ect. but I was wondering about water quantity for this phrag. How wet does it like to be? I have a Phrag. peacei and it likes to be super wet, wetter than most phrags. What media are your plants in and how do you water?One more thing, what's the leafspan? Anyone have a plant picture?

Well, no one answered since my last post. lol

My plant is still alive. It is a very small plant compared to many other phrags out there, which was one of the main appeals to me.

I think I kept it too dry but now I am keeping it a little wetter. The leaf tip drying is not getting worse but they are not growing at a reasonably speed like I read about them either.
I am just observing the super slow progress.

[The Orchid Boy]

From what I've heard, this plant likes to sit in water. I thought about trying mine in a mix of 1 part sphagnum, 2 parts bark, and 1 part LECA in a plastic basket sitting in water. This should keep the mix fresh and airy but also wet....

[NYCorchidman]

Mine is in coir, so it stays wet for a long time once I water it. hopefully not too damp lol

Another thing about this plant is that, I read that one of its parents, Schlimii, is a warm grower. that is a good thing for me.

I had no idea what's best for this one. it is alive but not really growing.

[Eddie Oates]

Sorry I'm a lot late in trying to answer the questions
but if you are still reading this post here's how I keep all my phrags---about 40. They are all watered with cold tap water 24/7 on a drip system, my water is very soft. They are not big feeders they hardly need any .A teaspoonful of blood and bone twice per year is all they get, anymore and you will get leaf tip burn ---you will also get leaf tip burn with letting them dry out. They are not too fussy about light and a slight movement of air will suffice. All mine are potted in NZ sphagnum and large perlite. Temp doesn't drop below 13c.
The same plant is again flowering so I will post pics when in bloom.
Sorry again for missing your questions,

Ed

[NYCorchidman]

I think mine needed to adjust to a new environment. and also I think I kept it too dry in fear of rotting roots in "tight" mix.
Since I started watering a lot more, it started to do better and no longer browning leaf tips.
Actually I have been keeping it almost wet and I'm surprised it is doing much much better. All four growths are sending up new leaves and there are even three new fans starting!

I am still concerned about root rot, so I think I will check the roots and switch the plant in more open mix but sit the plant in water as one member suggested above.

I can't wait to see the flowers on mine. Supposedly, once it fully "recovers", it should flower twice a year.

[No-Pro-mwa]

I have been setting mine is a saucer of water as well, and it scares me to death. It seems to be just setting there, there is one leaf more coming in. It does sometimes soak up all the water in the saucer before I put new in.

I have been wondering if I should try my worm poop as far as fertilizer goes. If these are terrestrial orchids wouldn't they get that in nature? It is very low %. I have watered a few of my plants with it 1 tea. in a 1/2 gal. Not sure how to mix it as it only gives directions for putting it on in your pots as is then water.

[NYCorchidman]

I have heard how phrags love moisture and have seen some people grow theirs (but different hybrids with different species involoved, Sorcerer's Apprentice was it I think. A huge plant) in a bucket of water. lol

The seller told me not to sit the plant in water as doing so will rot it out, but apparently this hybrid like water.

[The Orchid Boy]

Actually, a lot of phrags are not at all terrestrial. Many are lithophytic, growing on rocks near streams were water may run over their roots constantly and the may be submerged for weeks during flooding. Or they may grow near a waterfall or on a "weeping wall".

I'm basically setting my Phrag. pearcei in a small bucket of water and it put out around 10 new growths, no rot.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Love the bloom and the color!

[RosieC]

I grow two phrags in S/H so constantly wet, but the one in fine bark also generally has a little water in the bottom of the cache pot it sits in so it's also constantly wet. They all seem to grow better that way than letting them dry.