Phragmipedium kovachii as a houseplant

[LostInPeru]

Originally Posted by tucker85

Here's a link to the Kovachii page at Piping Rock Orchids which is a high quality paph and phrag vendor. On the top third of the page are links to two articles on Kovachii. One from Orchid Digest and one AOS bulletin. On page 11 of the Orchid Digest article you'll find some culture information.

Phragmipedium kovachii & Hybrids

I hadn't come across these hybrids before! New material to read! Sensory overload! Thanks!

[Vanda lover]

The hybrids should be easier to grow. If I had the space, I would get one. They are beautiful.

[Dane Fisher]

Phrag. kovachii is quite an easy species to grow, it needs constant air movement. I have mine straight in front of a fan. They need water with a slightly higher PH to grow well. I have my seedling layered with sphagnum moss on top of the medium which slightly highers the PH. Also they need a lot of air movement buy their roots. Basket culture generally works best to provide healthy roots. I've found mine to enjoy a potting mix of small bark chunks, coco fibre, course stone and sphagnum moss mix. I make my medium with equal parts of each.

It grows well as a house plant when grown in a saucer filled with rainwater.

Hope this helps

[Vanda lover]

Originally Posted by Dane Fisher

Phrag. kovachii is quite an easy species to grow, it needs constant air movement. I have mine straight in front of a fan. They need water with a slightly higher PH to grow well. I have my seedling layered with sphagnum moss on top of the medium which slightly highers the PH. Also they need a lot of air movement buy their roots. Basket culture generally works best to provide healthy roots. I've found mine to enjoy a potting mix of small bark chunks, coco fibre, course stone and sphagnum moss mix. I make my medium with equal parts of each.

It grows well as a house plant when grown in a saucer filled with rainwater.

Hope this helps

I believe you meant to say that Sphagnum lowers the pH. It acidifies the medium.

[No-Pro-mwa]

I just recently got a Haley Decker x dalessandrol cross so it would be 1/4 kovachii. I have also wanted one for a long time. I guess I will see how I do with it.

[LostInPeru]

Originally Posted by Dane Fisher

Phrag. kovachii is quite an easy species to grow, it needs constant air movement. I have mine straight in front of a fan. They need water with a slightly higher PH to grow well. I have my seedling layered with sphagnum moss on top of the medium which slightly highers the PH. Also they need a lot of air movement buy their roots. Basket culture generally works best to provide healthy roots. I've found mine to enjoy a potting mix of small bark chunks, coco fibre, course stone and sphagnum moss mix. I make my medium with equal parts of each.

It grows well as a house plant when grown in a saucer filled with rainwater.

Hope this helps

It's good to know their are people who have success with it as a houseplant and find them easy to grow. I feel reassured already. Tips on successful media is always good to hear. I will be using a basket after hearing your advice that the roots need a lot of air movement. I plant to keep it outside so hopefully will get enough air movement. My main reason for pursuing the expanded clay is it's low maintenance and it has a neutral PH.

Sphagnum scares me because of the health risks and I won't touch it lol. Maybe that attitude is a bit over the top but I don't feel relaxed around it.

I'm probably being a bit ambitious but hope to grow a PK and N lowii and have heard Brisbane has perfect weather for growing orchids and just hope that translates to tropical CPs. I've always assumed these species were too hard but might as well give them a try and see what happens as it will be rewarding if they grow.

Providing them with a saucer of water is interesting. I think I will definitely need to do that with expanded clay. Although am worried about root rot with this method.

I'm now thinking of just using normal tap water and then flushing it out once a month with distilled.

Thankyou everyone for your helpful replies. You certainly have a very nice forum community happening here.

[Vanda lover]

The expanded clay should work well and it won't break down and cause rotting. It will also wick the water up to the plant, which is s/h.
Be sure to check The PH of your tap water if you plan to use it, or mix it with some distilled or r/o water.

[RosieC]

I have no experience with this Phrag, but I do find others do well in Leca with a small amount of water always at the bottom so they never dry out.

I mostly water any Phrags with rain water, they seem to like that more than tap water.

[LostInPeru]

Thanks for the tip.

Currently inquiring about them with the supplier to find out more and hopefully will make a decision about getting one soon.

[LostInPeru]

Was perusing through ebay for kovachii stuff and came across a stamp that was issued by the Central African Republic in 2013 featuring the late Pope John Paul II alongside Phragmipedium kovachii.

Am I missing something here? Does anyone know how the Central African Republic, Pope John Paul II and PK fit together or have any significance together?

It just seems like the weirdest thing out. I can't understand why PK would feature on any other countries stamp other than that of Peru, and can only conclude it has something to do with Peru's heavily catholic traditions translating to the same traditions found in the Central African Republic and Kovach saying he thought it was gods will for him to find an orchid and name it after himself.

Somebody needs to clear this up for me. Very confused right now.