Watering a Phrag?

[No-Pro-mwa]

Ok so I do have my Phrag setting in a saucer of water but then if it is always wet how do you water it? Do I just flush it with plain water every week or with fertilizer every so often? I think I have fertilized it once in over a month.

[Brooke]

Yes I flush the pot every week or two. When you fertilize use a very week solution to avoid leaf tip die back.

Brooke

[No-Pro-mwa]

Yes thanks, I did and I'm not sure how often I am going to do it, fert I mean. I had been flushing it about once a week or so but just got to thinking I had better make sure. I would really hate to lose this one.

Some of the old leaves do have tip burn and I didn't find out what was causing it till a few months ago. Probably was being to dry as well.

[jeremyinsf]

What kind of Phrag are you talking about? Some are more sensitive to fertilizers than others. In general, Phrags are very light feeders, and the 'weakly, weekly' rule applies especially. Although I would call it 'very weakly, weekly'. A single, strong dose of fertilizer, even if just once a month, could really shock the plant.

[MrHappyRotter]

This is already covered, but make sure your phrag is one of the ones that likes to grow wet. Some of the long petalled species/hybrids will do okay with wet feet for short stints when they're actively growing, but many will resent it in the long run. Especially in winter.

But for the water lovers, I leave water sitting in the saucers at all times. Since I water twice a week, I just empty the saucers at that time and flush the pot. It's important to keep the water fresh, if it gets stagnant it can lead to problems.

Also, every day or every other day I top off the water for those that need it. Some of them are heavy drinkers, especially during the summer.

I also feed very lightly. It seems to be hit or miss in terms of the plants that appreciate or at least tolerate higher feeding rates versus those that are very sensitive. Leaf tip die back is common, and there are probably a number of different issues that can cause it, but if you feed too heavily, that can be one of the symptoms.

[No-Pro-mwa]

It's the only Phrag that I have...for now The tag say's Sorcerer's Apprentice 4N Grande 4N. I was told by someone on here that it is a Les Diroulles....which I have sense found I believe on Piping Rocks sight.

I have been able to bloom it twice but this March when I re-potted it I potted it maybe in to large of a clay pot. If I remember correctly the roots looked good. I did not know at the time that it needed that much water. I am always worrying about rot however.

And I am wondering about this winter as my house is kind of cold in the winter. It can get down in the 50's at night. It does seem to be doing better sense I re-potted it after people on here told me to set it in water. It has 3 new growths and I know at least 2 of them are coming up with a new leaf. It had a couple of starts that after I put it in the clay pot died. I wasn't keeping it wet enough. The water never gets stale because it soaks it up and I usually top it off every day. The saucer is not that deep.

I have not fertilized it every week as I have only been flushing it that often. I fertilized it about 2 weeks ago with 1/4 teas. in 1 gal of water. I use Dyna Gro Orchid Pro 7-8-6. The mix on the back of the bottle say's to use 1/2 teas in a gal. Should I make it even weaker? And how often do you think I should fertilize it?

And I have only been using rain water. One of the old growths that has flowered is dieing off, I hope that is not a bad sign. It has done that before and I thought that it was normal.

[MrHappyRotter]

I don't have specific experience with Sorcerer's Apprentice x Grande, I mostly stick to the smaller growers. Your plant is 25% caudatum, one of the ones that are generally not grown soaking wet, but the rest of the species involved are water hogs, so I think keeping its feet wet is appropriate. That's especially true if you're already successfully growing it that way.

Temps in the 50's at night? Probably not ideal, but I bet it will handle them well. You should keep an eye on it, though. Cold and wet isn't the best combination. In years past, I've kept some phrags outside late in the season, and they handled night temps in the 50's just fine. But, it wasn't for a whole season, just a week or two at most. If you run into trouble, cut back on water and if at all possible, get it into warmer conditions. Even low 60's would be an improvement.

Your feeding routine sounds alright. I bet you could go a lot weaker with it, 1/8 tsp or less. But again, if you aren't having any issues with your current feeding rate/frequency, then there's no need to change it. If you notice the leaf tips turning brown/black, the first thing I'd recommend is to cut back on the ferts.

It doesn't sound like the dying growth (that's already flowered) is a problem. That's the slipper lifecycle. Once a particular growth blooms, that's it. Over time it will die off. Usually it takes a year or two, sometimes more.

[phraggy]

Just do as Happyrotter says and you will not go wrong.I have over fifty phrags of all sizes and they are all watered continually 24/7. only applied twice per year with a little fish,blood and bone. The only phrags that you could experience leaftip burn (if your following Happyrotter advise ) is with Phrag Pearce I and it's hybrids. Don't worry you can't rot phrag roots with good clean water no matter how heavily you water.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Thanks both Mr.HappyRotter and phraggy I will do. I should have been more specific my house does not get that low every night just sometimes but in the 60's always. It will get in the upper 70's in the day time when the sun shines. I live in a log home so when the wind blows ( often) we just try and warm the air as it goes through heeheehee but sadly true.

I will watch the fert and I may go lower. I am starting to write down when I feed this one as I think it is much more touchy than my others. When we have a snow storm and it is very cold I may hold up on the water in the saucer just to make sure.

phraggy do you put powdered blood meal and powdered bone meal then in there? I got some Neptunes but it does smell bad so I am going to order just kelp so it isn't so smelly. I also have pelleted dolomite lime and I have put that in with both my paph's but nothing else.

[Eddie Oates]

Originally Posted by No-Pro-mwa

Thanks both Mr.HappyRotter and phraggy I will do. I should have been more specific my house does not get that low every night just sometimes but in the 60's always. It will get in the upper 70's in the day time when the sun shines. I live in a log home so when the wind blows ( often) we just try and warm the air as it goes through heeheehee but sadly true.

I will watch the fert and I may go lower. I am starting to write down when I feed this one as I think it is much more touchy than my others. When we have a snow storm and it is very cold I may hold up on the water in the saucer just to make sure.

phraggy do you put powdered blood meal and powdered bone meal then in there? I got some Neptunes but it does smell bad so I am going to order just kelp so it isn't so smelly. I also have pelleted dolomite lime and I have put that in with both my paph's but nothing else.

Just sprinkle a small tsp around the top of the compost. I have never used dolomite so couldn't give an opinion on this.

Ed