Phragmipedium kovachii as a houseplant

[LostInPeru]

Originally Posted by WeirdGuySeattle

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. 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.

LOL but don't you think it's overly harsh of the seller to have reacted in such a manner?

I thought by getting away from Carnivorous Plants and Aibo I was moving away from those types of narrow minded opinions but now see they are prevelent in all hobbies and you can't escape them.

Anyway everything is produced by tissue culture, which is not exactly difficult, and you can produce hundreds of the same plant at a time. I don't see how a newbie having a go at growing kovachii is going to have the slightest impact on their status in captivity.

If anything the seller should be grateful they have found a customer who wants to take on the challenge of growing kovachii as it is a big financial risk on the buyers part while the seller sits back charging a premium price for something that most people would see as too great a risk to take on. I understand charging a premium price for a small potted plant but the prices for flasks are just silly and their lucky to even have any customers. It seems their only interested in doing minimal work for maximum gain.

For me people are more important and allowing someone the opportunity to have a go at growing kovachii should be something anyone is allowed to pursue. We only live life once and I think it's very selfish for a supplier to not sell to people like that when their is an endless supply of plants coming out of tissue culture in unlimited quantities.

Sure their might be a lot of other great orchids, but for me the appeal of kovachii with it's bold eye catching blooms just seem like something that would be extremely rewarding to grow. I like how kovachii is bold and large and stands out and just find it amazing how something like that could exist in nature for thousands of years and yet stay secluded and unknown until so recently.

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

As one who grows orchids in windowsills and outdoors I can definitely say a greenhouse is not needed if you get orchids that can do well in conditions you (or nature) provides ...

I have outside orchids that take temps of just over 100 F for short periods as well as down to just below freezing for short periods.

Thanks for letting me know this! I will keep this in mind next time I think of taking on kovachii.