Need advice on picking a Phrag

[Tindomul]

Hi all,

Was wondering if any of you Phrag wizzes could help me get an idea of whether or not I can grow a phrag in my terrarium.

If I were to put a phrag in my tank it would be planted in ABG mix (chopped orchid potting bark, a few strands of sphagnum, charcoal, and some tree fern fiber). The mix has stayed consistently moist but never wet. My epiphytic rhododendrons are growing nicely in it.

The tank stays cool to intermediate temps (60-80 F).

I have some bright lights above, which can be seen here: T5 8 x 2' Hydrofarm Designer Fixture FLP28 $185.00 Lighting First Rays LLC

The vivarium is very humid but has a ton of ventilation with two strong computer fans set up to cause air circulation.

Are there any phrags that would be happy in moist but never wet substrate?


Thanks.

[CPKidofAugusta]

Phrag ecuadorense? Shouldn't be too hard and it's absolutely tiny for phrags. Couple of problems: A)never actually seen one for sale and B) Doesn't seem to have a consistent name. Some consider it a subspecies of pearcei

I'll leave you with this:

[Tindomul]

oooh nice!Thanks, but is there some easier to find, begginners Phrag. How big do they usually get. My terrarium would have about a 15 inch clearance for spikes.[/FONT]

[Paphluvr]

Originally Posted by Tindomul

oooh nice!Thanks, but is there some easier to find, begginners Phrag. How big do they usually get. My terrarium would have about a 15 inch clearance for spikes.[/FONT]

Not many Phrags would meet that height limitation.

[Bud]

Phrags are sometimes immersed in water on riverbanks in situ during monsoon rains....so your environment is ideal for them....I let mine watered evenly moist on S/H....
here is a link to miniature Phrags:

Woodstream Orchids

[naoki]

Tindomul, how about Mexipedium xerophyticum? It is small, and you treat it like paphs. Easy to grow (but I haven't flowered mine yet). I believe that it used to be in genus Phragmipedium.

I have only limited experience with Phrags (only 7 species), so the following is from reading books, web etc. Another small one is P. andreettae, it is not so cheap (yet). Similarly, P. manzurii & P. fischeri are supposed to be relatively small, but they aren't cheap, neither. So affordable (relatively) small ones are P. besseae and P. schlimii. But these are mostly wet type.

The drier Phrags are the relatives of long petaled species (P. caudatum, P. lindenii, P. wallisii etc). But they are pretty big.

But do you really have to grow it in the terrarium? Don't you have enough humidity in Queens?


You probably know this site with Phrag info, but just in case:
Species Data Sheets

Tom Kalina of Fox Valley Orchids,Ltd - Lady's Slipper Orchid Specialists has interesting Phrags. Also, you might keep eyes on "For Sale" section of slipper talk. I think Ed (ehanes) still has P. besseae for a good price.

[jeremyinsf]

For something that small and those requirements, perhaps phrag richteri or phrag hirtzii. They are closely related and are the smallest of smalls.

Here is my little hirtzii in a 3.25" container. There are just a few small growths but two are spiking (it's a recent division) and you can see it's planted in similar medium.

My phrag richteri (topperi) is in a 1 gallon pot, and this is specimen size - 35+ growths. Even still, you can see how small the plant is and that it's not going to overtake anything. The flowers are similar but slightly larger than hirtzii. I don't have a current bloom to show you.

I think either (or both haha) types would do well in your setup. hirtzii is easier to find than richteri.

[Tindomul]

Great suggestions guys. I really had no idea how tall Phrags were.
Naoki, thank you for the link. No I had never been there.

[naoki]

Nice, Jeremy! Your P. hirtzii looks quite different from the typical one. Yours look quite pinkish, and petals don't seem to twist much.

Do you know the flowering season of P. richteri? I recently got a fairly big plant (slightly less number of shoots than yours) from Peruflora, so I'm wondering about the flowering time.

[jeremyinsf]

I'm coming to learn how much phrag species really, really vary. It's in part I think why there are so many (arguments) discussions about what is a species, what is a natural hybrid, what is a variation etc. I got a pearcei on pre-order and when I looked at the flower, it was not what I was expecting. That was my first lesson! And I've had several since. Anyway I try to enjoy them for what they are. A reminder that each plant is one-of-a-kind.

Couple these conditions with hybridization and then we really get some different looking flowers - my Sorcerer's Apprentice (see other thread in this section) is an example, because it's sooooo red. Many others are more on the tan-ish side on the pouch.

That is a very young hirtzii flower - I remember another on the other spike being much more twisty and sticking out at 45 degree angles. But yes, it's a softer color for sure. Part of it is that I took that photo with my phone AND under the T5 lights, and that skews it. I was lazy, sorry.

richteri = "In Peru this species flowers from July until September". I do not consider it a 'free flowering' orchid. Many (if not most) phrags will spike when the growth is mature, but this one does not appear to do so. Update us when you get something please!