Phragmipedium klotzschianum
 

The first word that comes to mind when I think of Phragmipedium klotzschianum is ADORABLE. It had been sitting on my wish list for quite some time, and this year, I finally acquired a couple of them.

I can't give a ton of first hand advice on growing them, other than I feed them much less than I feed my other phrags, which is already less than I feed other genera. I also keep them closer to the bulbs to provide higher light. These like/need to stay wet (and thus warm), though I already grow most of my phrags that way. Tom (Fox Valley) was telling me that these would sometimes turn up in the tropical aquarium plant trade, and even in nature, they are often found submerged in water for part of the year. So, that should be a clue at how much water they like.

These phrags are small. Were my hand made of a suitable substrate and constantly bathed in water, a whole colony could grow on it. They grow a little on the slow side, and the root systems don't appear to be quite as massive as other species. The leaves are very stiff, reminiscent of Neofinetia, perhaps. This first bloom will probably only have 1 or 2 flowers. The slightly nodding flower is proportionally large compared to the size of the foliage. The sepals and lateral petals are pink/purple tinted, with purple veining. The lip is quite uniquely shaped.

In summary, this is a pretty amazing, miniature phrag. If you like small growers, this species and its hybrids should be in your collection.

http://i.imgur.com/G4MRRKRl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/qtDSrfvl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/iD8XDQFl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/LBO56sLl.jpg

This is AMAZING! where did you get this? also, do the aquarium people grow this fully submerged??

I picked this one up from Seattle Orchids, and I got another one from Fox Valley Orchids.

I would assume the aquarium folks were growing them fully submerged, since they're small plants. I don't know if the plants actually lived and thrived fully submerged for any significant length of time.

I certainly wouldn't try it in my tanks, at least not right now. They're a bit too expensive and hard to find to consider using one as a guinea pig.

Pet stores commonly sell various terrestrial plants as "aquarium" plants, things like mondo grass and Dracena. Things like that almost always die when grown fully submerged for long periods, but from time to time I've heard folks claim that their {insert random terrestrial plant name} has been doing fine for {insert random number} of years submersed.

And the truth is, quite a number of the commonly available aquarium plants are things that mostly lead fully terrestrial lives in nature. Many of them experience long periods of being submerged or have to deal with frequent flooding, and therefore have become able to live underwater at all times.

Wow, that is an interesting plant! I appreciate all of the valuable information that you included in your posts, thank you!

The leaves are so small. It's wonderful. Thanks for the information.

Sweet! That's my size of Phrag!

I saw one in bloom at Fox Valley a few years ago and was struck by how white the lip can be ... The one I saw had the white part extended to the top of the pouch... So I bought one!! But I sold it before I bloomed it to a phragmapedium breeder who needed it more than me for his breeding program... Since then he has made numerous crosses. Can't wait to see them bloom in a few years!

On a cultural note, I did notice that they grow with long rhizomes between growths. Also I did sit them in RO water, feed very lightly and flush often. Never knew they might grow under water. Very interesting!


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Yeah, they tend to be rhizamatous, but then again, so are Phrag. pearcei and equadorense (smaller growing phrags in the same section), and of course, besseae, the mother of all rhizomatous phrags.

There are some more clones that are better than others in terms of short rhizomes.

I agree...ADORABLE. Absolutely adorable.

You people are bad news for my budget. After seeing this I just ordered one from Tom @ Fox Valley along with a couple of traveling companions. Hope it is as cute as yours.

Bill