Phrag. Olaf Gruss in bloom

[RosieC]

Lovely one!

I love Phrags but haven't had one bloom for a while. Buying another two will hopefully help, at least one of them is flowering size and is growing fast.

[lotis146]

Okay guys, this plant hates me. It started a new growth after the bloom died last year but then the growth completely gave up, now it's dying. Nothing has happened with this plant except mold growing on the medium. In the last month or so I've been trying to keep water in the plastic container it sits in but that hasn't helped. There is weird brown spots on the leaves but they don't seem to be spreading. I've just recently remembered that I never have repotted this thing! So hopefully by the weekend I will have done so and maybe then I'll have some progress. In the meantime, any tips? This makes me think I need to stay away from Phrags.

[bethmarie]

I think Phrags take some adjustment. I gave up on my first one, too, and two years later I've jumped back in with both feet. I have six of them now - yikes! But they seem to be thriving. MrHappyRotter's advice helped me so much. Collar him and pelt him with Phrag questions

FYI, I kick myself now for giving up on my first Phrag. It was a small growing, fantastically colored schlimii that I didn't have the experience to appreciate. All the ones I've looked at trying to replace it look pale and washed out in comparison.

[lotis146]

Originally Posted by bethmarie

I think Phrags take some adjustment. I gave up on my first one, too, and two years later I've jumped back in with both feet. I have six of them now - yikes! But they seem to be thriving. MrHappyRotter's advice helped me so much. Collar him and pelt him with Phrag questions

FYI, I kick myself now for giving up on my first Phrag. It was a small growing, fantastically colored schlimii that I didn't have the experience to appreciate. All the ones I've looked at trying to replace it look pale and washed out in comparison.

Thank you, if this thread doesn't bring him in then I shall chase him down!

What's working for you now? What was the best thing you did to turn your 'luck' around?

[No-Pro-mwa]

I have this one coming this week. I sure do hope you can save it. I have 2 others and they are both doing fine. I have them setting in water. My Les Diroulles has aborted new growths before. I'm not sure why but if it does it has put out a new one. I am going to re-pot this one soon. Not sure what I am going to put it in, that will be another thread but for now it is in Coconut hull mix. My other smaller one is in paph seedling mix. That's really all I can help you with.

I hope Mr.HappyRotter shows up soon.

[lotis146]

Originally Posted by No-Pro-mwa

I have this one coming this week. I sure do hope you can save it. I have 2 others and they are both doing fine. I have them setting in water. My Les Diroulles has aborted new growths before. I'm not sure why but if it does it has put out a new one. I am going to re-pot this one soon. Not sure what I am going to put it in, that will be another thread but for now it is in Coconut hull mix. My other smaller one is in paph seedling mix. That's really all I can help you with.

I hope Mr.HappyRotter shows up soon.

Good luck with yours, seems you should do fine if your others are happy with you.

Once I repot I'll know more about the overall condition of mine, plus I will pot it in something more water retentive like coconut coir and a paph seedling mix I have. I'm really thinking it's my watering habits (or lack of). Is yours coming in bud? I'm lucky that mine did so I got a chance to see it bloom.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Originally Posted by lotis146

Good luck with yours, seems you should do fine if your others are happy with you.

Once I repot I'll know more about the overall condition of mine, plus I will pot it in something more water retentive like coconut coir and a paph seedling mix I have. I'm really thinking it's my watering habits (or lack of). Is yours coming in bud? I'm lucky that mine did so I got a chance to see it bloom.

Oh I'm so happy it did come in bud. I did not know it was in bud when I bought it. I'm so afraid it will abort it. I'm not happy with USPS as it was sent on the 24th and I didn't get it till yesterday. Both orchids look good however. You know I am an underwater-er also. since I started setting them in a saucer of water they are now my easiest ones to deal with. I only water them about every week and a half.

I am thinking of putting mine in Leca just to make sure they are getting enough air but both are doing good the way they are. I don't think I am going to do S/H at this time as I'm not sure it would be as easy as setting them in the saucers of water.

[lotis146]

Oh yeah, congrats! Do share pics when the bloom opens, I will cross my fingers it survives. USPS can be frustrating for sure though I have really only had one incidence in all my orchid buying. I haven't got a chance to repot mine yet but hopefully this weekend. I moved it to the top shelf tucked among other tall plants, maybe I wasn't giving it enough light and am still trying the water in the saucer trick. Hopefully it makes a turn around.

Have fun with yours! Mine only gave me two blooms but I've read they can ultimately have up to 7, sequentially of course.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Will do, if it makes it. This one has 2 buds also, so if one doesn't make it hopefully the other one will. I'm very happy with the plant.