Phragmipedium richteri x popowii
 

Labelled as Phragmipedium richteri x warscewiczianum, but with the recent taxonomic changes I think this is actually Phragmipedium richteri x popowii. I don't even know how the registration goes in terms of the hybrid name. Is this still considered to be Phrag. Predator?

Regardless of the correct nomenclature, this is an amazingly beautiful and remarkably compact growing Phrag. The darkness and richness of the brown and green flowers is what caught my attention, in combination with the stunning, long petals. I really love the dorsal sepal, I love the way it swoops over the pouch, and the veining on the outer side. It's a very intricate mixture of stripes and veins and spots. Sure it's not a vibrant orange color like besseae, but it makes up for that with character.

This plant has a number of large growths, and two spikes, with two flowers each. What I really love about this plant, and the main reason I could not pass it up, is its growth habit. The foliage is held fairly upright, and the plant tops out at right around 12" (~30 cm) tall. And as you can see, it carries very short spikes ... this is truly a Phrag that I can grow and bloom completely under the lights. Almost all the others have to be moved off the shelves at some point as they're blooming because the spikes grow so long. Not this one, though!

I can't take any credit for the blooms or the good growing. I decided to treat myself yesterday, and this was one of two plants I purchased. I was travelling the Blue Ridge Parkway, and on a whim I decided I wanted to take a break from hiking and go visit Looking Glass Orchids. I didn't know what to expect before I got there, but once I walked in, I was completely enamored by all the Paphs and Phrags, so many of which were in bloom. If my budget had allowed for more, I could have easily walked out of there with at least a dozen more plants. And Russ was very friendly and knowledgeable, so it was fun to chat about slippers with him. The sales greenhouse was huge and packed full of some really interesting species and hybrids. I wish I had thought to grab my camera to photograph all the beautiful things that were in bloom, but when phrag fever kicks in, it's not uncommon for me to completely loose track of everything else. LOL I'm definitely going back asap, even though it's a 5 or 6 hour drive away -- totally worth it.

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

http://i.imgur.com/48iz25Jl.jpg

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

http://i.imgur.com/3W1XQEJl.jpg

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

Nice find!

My your so lucky to have found it. Very cool looking. I so love the long petals.

I have a question for you, hope you don't mind me changing the subjected. This has happened to all 3 of my Phrags. They will start 2 new growths on an old growth then 1 will abort. Then it may or may not try and start another one on it and abort again. so my question is why do they do that? Is it not getting some nutrient or something? I am sure it is not from drying out.

I'm not sure. Now that you mention it, I have see it happen in a few plants, not just phrags. I assume it's a plant that's hedging its bets.

I wish I could figure it out. My Olaf Gruss is doing it right now. It has 3 growths, the 2 on the outside are both growing new growths, one of which is still blooming. The one that was done blooming started 2 new growths then one aborted and now its' trying to start another one but it seems to have stopped again. The other growth on it is getting bigger so I think it will be OK.

Then the one that is still blooming had 2 start then one stopped then it grew a bit more than it has stopped again. It is driving me crazy, I look at them every day when I water it with a flash light, so I can see it good. I know, I know I'm nuts. I am so trying to keep up with what I think it might like. I think I'm going to hit it with some inocucor today in hopes it may like that.

What is your relative humidity like around the plants?

Does this mostly happen during the warmer months for you? It could be temperature or maybe humidity related. I grow indoors, so this time of year, they stay within about the 68F - 75F range most of the time, and although in years past I was much more adamant about keeping my humidity up, I now only work to keep it above 50 and things seem fine.

I would say temperature and humidity would be the first things I'd look into. Then maybe consider whether the plants are getting too much or too little light. Unless you're seeing obvious signs of nutrient issues, I'd say that's pretty low on the list. Other than, if you're using a lot of hormone / growth stimulant products (like seaweed), maybe cut back on that stuff. For the feeding part, I do rotate products ... gotta hedge my bets ... and I figure they can't all be deficient in the same nutrients.

I would guess both of you are right. I do know my humidity is not as it should be. This time of year it is better, but it is hard for me to keep it up.

Thanks for your input.

Very nice!

Nice plant and flowers. The upright leaves give the plant an almost iris-like appearance.