Phragmipedium kovachii as a houseplant - Page 3 - Orchid Board

LostInPeru · #21 02-01-2014, 08:36 PM

Inquired with that supplier and now apparently their are none available and might not be 'for months or years' quoting the seller. Whatever that means. They stated it is not an orchid for beginners to deflask and grow.

I give up. Some people tell me it's an easy plant to grow others make out it's the hardest thing to do. Bye.

LostInPeru · #22 02-02-2014, 02:41 AM

Apologies for being rude, I'm just feeling frustrated thats all. The orchid scene in Australia really seems only for collectors as almost everything here that is not run of the mill is only sold online here and is flask.

I have found a second supplier here in Australia just through doing a simple google search and will see how I get along with them.

INSIDER TIP: If your a newbie to the orchid scene like me but captivated by P. kovachii and thinking of purchasing P. kovachii don't mention this to the supplier.

Sorry and all the best of luck growing your plants.

Fairorchids · #23 02-02-2014, 09:17 AM

I have visited Piping Rock Orchids several times. Glen grows PK seedlings in the greenhouse under a tent of 50% shade cloth, so they get very low light.

They are very slow growers. Fertilize lightly every 2-3 weeks, and drench in between to wash out excess salts.

Vanda lover · #24 02-02-2014, 11:23 AM

Good luck. I know your frustration because there isn't a lot available here either. I was able to get a couple of orchid plants I wanted, now that we have an orchid grower here on the island, but mostly I would have to have them shipped. That particular phrag is very expensive.

tucker85 · #25 02-02-2014, 12:22 PM

Remember, Phrag. Kovachii comes from South America and has only been available for a few years. That's probably why it isn't readily available in other parts of the world yet.

WeirdGuySeattle · #26 02-02-2014, 03:06 PM

I wouldn't take it personally, the grower probably wouldn't want to sell a flask to someone like me either who is just a collector and not a breeder / semi-professional retailer. Think about it from a growers perspective. They have waited years to see something like Kovachii and managed somehow against major competition / cost to get seeds from two healthy plants - probably with all sorts of legal red tape involved.

It took years, but you finally successfully raise some flowering plants / flasks of your own from the seeds you bought (you aren't going to directly sell your flasks from the seeds you sourced).

Now you have a bevy of collectors, retailers and breeders pestering you for some seedlings or better yet flasks. You finally have some ready for sale. You have one guy who has never successfully grown any Phrag, let alone this super rare one (regardless of the difficulty) who wants to buy a flask. They have never purchased or tried to de-flask and raise a seedling orchid of any type (its very difficult process for any species).. You have others who are either professional or proficient collectors who have done both and are ready to grow specimen size plants that will nearly certainly reach breeding size / quality.

Who would you rather sell to? Would you rather the orchid seller sell to someone who is nearly certain to kill at least 95% of the seedlings? Or would you rather sell to someone who will increase the supply of Kovachii and will ultimately make this plant as available as Bessae?

If you want to grow orchids, there are easily others that are as beautiful and alluring. They might not be as rare. However, for the unsuccessful, something easily replaceable might be better (I love Bessae - its a fantastic plant that would give you practice.).

I don't consider it snobbery (personally), but perhaps just a little passionate about the species and its growth potential for the Orchid breeding industry.

LostInPeru · #27 02-04-2014, 09:57 AM

You won't believe it but I have found myself in the incredible position of being able to acquire a mythical Ghost Orchid Dendrophylax lindenii also known as Polyrrhiza lindenii.

Stumbled across a Ebay listing for a flask that had ended without a bid 24 hours earlier, and noticed the seller not only was incredibly located in Australia but also lived in the same city as me.

I have been in contact with the seller and I am able to meet up with them this weekend to collect the flask.

But my question is, would you say this plant was too difficult to grow for a first timer? This is an incredible opportunity and to find an orchid that is this rare in cultivation is almost like a dream.

I have read Keith Davis article about growing the ghost orchid so am well informed about it's care. What do you more experienced growers think? Should I purchase it and try to deflask it? It is very hard to source this orchid here in Australia.

Need adivce lol. What do you think I should do? Like the other supplier this one also does not actually grow the plant, only sells them in flask. Apparently the plant I am purchasing is still in the protocorm like stage but is said to be quite large and healthy and I was thinking perhaps if I found someone locally in Brisbane who did tissue culture I could get them to divide it for me and perhaps they could make it available for others to purchase.

Maybe this would be a good opportunity for me to get into selling Ghost Orchid as a small business? I could purchase all the appropriate materials to facilitate tissue culture I guess. What do you think?

---------- Post added at 08:57 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:54 AM ----------

I guess I'm a daydreamer, can't help it.

Here I have conditions much similar to Florida, and I have read most people fail because they don't water it enough, and when they do water it they water too much. I've also heard a lot of failures happen from incorrect light levels, either too much or too less. From reading about this orchid I think I have a good enough idea about it's needs.

But this isn't something you see for sale everyday and I have not been able to find this orchid anywhere else, even with the big tissue culture orchid businesses. The seller told me they are the only person in Australia to offer this plant for sale.

I'd be crazy to ignore this offer while I am also crazy accepting it.

It's hot and humid here, much like Florida, with the mild winters to match, so I am confident if I paid attention to it everyday that it would survive.

Plan on keeping the flask inside until it forms into a proper plant, on a bright window that doesn't get direct sunlight. Then once it is ready to be deflasked I will grow it outside in a miniature shade house in shade at first and then move it to somewhere that gets morning sunlight, although will keep it in the shadehouse and minitor it everyday and water by misting a small amount once or twice a day. I will grow it on Spanish Moss out of the flask until it is lare enough to be mounted onto a piece of wood.

I've been reading about tissue culture and have abandoned any ideas about trying to divide it and do this myself. Too expensive and time consuming. I will just leave the flask develop into a strong and healthy plant and hope I can keep it alive.

Getting exicted about collecting it and will post an update once I have it.

orchidsarefun · #28 02-04-2014, 10:01 AM

I would open a new thread for the Dend.and request input....

My Green Pets · #29 02-04-2014, 10:07 AM

One thing is knowing the care instructions, the other thing is execution.

Listen, as a member of OB your chances of success are much higher. The more you communicate w the board about your plants w photos and updates, the more help you will receive.

youre not alone, so go ahead and give it a go. on that note though, the phrag will be less difficult than the ghost.

quiltergal · #30 02-04-2014, 12:32 PM

If you have never grown an orchid before I would recommend starting with something easier. Practicing good orchid culture on something much less expensive/rare seems like a responsible idea. Deflasking let alone purchasing a flask in the protocorm stage is pretty advanced stuff for someone who has never grown an orchid before. You may be able to pull it off but your odds of being successful aren't very good.

As far as the Ghost Orchid goes I know people who have been growing orchids in greenhouses for decades that have not been successful with that one.

It sounds like you have done your research which is good, but reading about something is entirely different from actually practicing it.