New Phrags
 

Hi Everyone. I am about to take delivery of two new phrags. I am so excited about them because they are my favourite type of orchid. One is a Caudatum/Wallisii and the other is a Mont Fallu. I would just like any information that you can offer me to ensure that I don't kill them! I have many large south east and south west facing windows but unfortunately no windowsills. I live in a tower block right up on the 14 floor so I get endless hours of daylight. I am considering getting a cabinet to keep them on which I would put as close to the windows as possible but I don't know if that is necessary yet. Any adviced you can give me on feeding and light requirements would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

after killing my first wallisii, i discovered that they, unlike most phrags, will not grow with thier feet wet....do NOT put it in a saucer of water! gl and enjoy them!

Thanks dounoharm.
I will keep them dry. :)

No, not dry but a little bit humid!

O.K then I will keep them humid.

Thanks in advance.

Susie, I have about eight different phrags now and they are all doing well in coconut fibre. I do keep a bit of water in a saucer under them but I haven't grown a wallisii. Earlier this year I purchased a Mont Fallu but I don't think it is quite blooming size yet. I'm anxious to see it flower as the pictures were lovely. Good luck with yours.

:)

Wow 8!! I would love to have that many one day. I do know that the caudatum likes it dryer than most of the other types so that one I won't keep in water but the Mont Fallu I most probably will. Can I ask you what lighting requirements you have in place for your phrags? I ask because I don't have any windowsills so it could present a problem for me. Thanks for the advice Shirley.
:)

Sorry I ignored your questions in my first response. I got my first phrag in 1993 and my second in 1997, both still going strong. I lean toward the long-petalled ones (hence the Mont Fallu acquisition) but I also enjoy my Andean Fire and now have a "baby" Cleola which I'm hoping will be somewhere between pink and white in bloom.

My phrags are in a North East corner window so, at this time of year, they get a bit of direct sun early in the morning but the rest of the time the light is bright but indirect. I would say brighter than for Phals.

I water once weekly from the top and leave some of the water in the saucer below - not a lot! By mid-week the saucer is usually dry and the top of the coco fiber is starting to dry so I'll add another 1/8 inch or so to the saucer. They're not sopping wet!

As for fertilizing, I do this every second week in summer and every third in winter, rotating three kinds -- a 20-20-20, a high nitrogen, and a bloom booster. If a regular fertilizer (not particularly for orchids) I do it at half strength. If the fertilizer doesn't contain magnesium, I add magnesium sulphate (epsom salts) to it.

I hope this is helpful, Susie but remember it's just what works for me! Best of luck!

:)

One more thought! Keep an eye on the colour of the leaves. If they are dark, they probably need more light. You probably will want to get your plants very close to the window but diffused if they're in direct sun.

:)

Thanks for the advice Shirley. That was exactly what I was after. They arrive around about Thursday so I'm really looking forward to them now I feel a bit more confident about them. I'll let you know how I get on with them.

:biggrin: