New Phragmipedium --advice needed

[bethmarie]

I feel like a brand newbie. Just got a number of Phrags and don't know much about them except that they like to stay moist all the time.

Does this one need to be repotted so that those exposed roots are under the medium?

It's in spike, btw.

[MrHappyRotter]

I'm speaking in generalizations of course, but Phrags produce significantly more roots than other slipper orchids. So, it's not uncommon for the roots to push out through the top of the mix and down out the bottom of the pot.

The roots look fine. You generally only run into issues with root tips exposed to the air or if the media dries out too much after salts/minerals have had time to build up. Exposed root tips may dry out and die, but that's usually not a problem since phrags produce so many roots. If you're growing this plant and letting it sit in a saucer of water, then it's not going to be a problem at all. If you're worried, you can set the pot down into a deeper pot and drape some sphag over the top of the roots.

I would wait to repot until the plant is done blooming. By that point, the new growths will also be throwing out roots if they aren't already, and then you can move the plant up a size. Repotting isn't going to hurt anything, but it will reduce the number of flowers you get and likely cause some flower quality issues. You might as well enjoy the show. The plant and roots look healthy to me, and I'm sure the plant can support growing and blooming like it is.

One thing I like to do is leave a 1/2 inch of the rim of the pot above the potting mix. In my collection, this provides a tiny micro-climate that supports the growth of moss and liverworts which eventually start to grow fast enough that they keep the roots covered ... even those that peek out the top. Another thing to note is that phrags (this applies to paphs as well) often bloom more reliably when they are allowed to become a little pot bound. I suspect there are some hormonal things that kick in when the roots have limited space, that helps regulate how much energy the plant will put into root growth, versus foliage and flowers. So, when you do repot, and you're looking at potting up to the next size, do so in 1/2 to 1 inch increments if possible.

What phrag is this by the way? It looks nice and healthy, and clearly is in bloom or in spike!

[Vanda lover]

I agree, wait until after blooming. If you have it, lava rock or leca is great to pot phrags in because it doesn't rot. I have had one in s/h in lava rock for over 3 years and it is the easiest of my plants to care for. It never had a problem with mealybug or scale when all of my other plants did.

[cbuchman]

I've been pleasantly surprised at how easy Phrags are to grow. My initial mistake was in not giving them enough sun. If you think about how they grow in the wild - along river banks where there is a lot of flowing water and dampness, it isn't a surprise that they like to be moist and since rivers don't usually have a huge tree canopy, they are sunny places.

[Vanda lover]

I didn't give them enough sun at first either. I thought they were lower light plants but now I am giving them the same light as catts

[Fairorchids]

Given that Phrags need A LOT of water (I have mine standing in a 3" deep flat, and I drench from the top 1-2 times a week), you generally need to repot every 12 months since the medium tends to break down in 12-15 months.

I prefer to wait till the flowering is done, but it is not critical. I would recommend potting it about 1/2" deeper next time.

I try to use pots that are 1.1/2 times as deep as they are wide. Then, I drill one-three 3/8" holes in the side, about 1/2 way up. This improves the air flow in the pot, considering that the pot is standing in 3" water.

[bethmarie]

Originally Posted by MrHappyRotter

What phrag is this by the way? It looks nice and healthy, and clearly is in bloom or in spike!

It's Seymour Tower. In spike with the bud still sheathed. I'm hoping the bud will survive having been shipped recently, and ending up in the clutches of a total Phrag novice.

Thanks to all of you for the fast replies and wealth of feedback. Don't know what my Phrags would do without you!

[MrHappyRotter]

Originally Posted by bethmarie

It's Seymour Tower. In spike with the bud still sheathed. I'm hoping the bud will survive having been shipped recently, and ending up in the clutches of a total Phrag novice.

Thanks to all of you for the fast replies and wealth of feedback. Don't know what my Phrags would do without you!

Sounds nice. I've seen several of those in spike showing up online for sale recently and I've tried very, very hard to resist the temptation. For one thing, this Christmas has been expensive and secondly, I'm never really comfy ordering in winter with the way the weather can change so quickly and because shipping can be so unreliable.

Anyway, post pics when it's blooming. Should hopefully be fragrant, like schlimii but perhaps less intense. It's also prone to produce branching spikes, though it may not do so on the first spike (or few).

[The Mutant]

Originally Posted by cbuchman

I've been pleasantly surprised at how easy Phrags are to grow. My initial mistake was in not giving them enough sun. If you think about how they grow in the wild - along river banks where there is a lot of flowing water and dampness, it isn't a surprise that they like to be moist and since rivers don't usually have a huge tree canopy, they are sunny places.

I agree. I only have had two for over a year, but they proved so easy to grow that they got a new friend recently; a little Phrag. Jason Fischer. I may or may not have ordered two more Phrags till spring.

[MNBloom]

Just bought my first Phrag for the greenhouse on campus.

Overall what is the best potting mixture that you use for success. It was quite spendy and I'd hate to kill it right away.

Phragmipedium Eric Young