Purchasing my First Phragmipedium! Advice please?

[terryros]

Until my collection got over 40-50 plants I would also go to the grocery store and just refill gallon containers at a low cost. I now use 2-3 gallons per day for my watering/fertilizing routine and that would be overly frequent trips to the grocery store. My counter-top RO device sits right beside the deep tub where I water. It is connected directly to the tap. It is 6 inches wide and 14 inches long and is made by Omnipure. It pays for itself over the long term compared to the grocery store.

There is a wide variety of quality in any orchid hybrid and Don Wimbers and Jason Fischer's aren't different. I currently have two Don Wimbers and 5 Jason Fischers (two are unbloomed seedlings). I am going to be getting rid of one of the Don Wimbers and
one of the JF because I just don't think they are good enough quality. When you have limited space, you have to grit your teeth and get rid of some plants. What I am getting rid of are not bad and they are healthy, but I want to just have high quality plants. I keep getting every new JF that Orchids Limited produces to try and improve what I have. I know this is probably irrational but I find it fun to pursue high quality in some kinds of plants. I would have never done this 5 years ago.

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[Cattleya17]

Thanks guys! I will look into that I'm in hannaford all the time!!! I will find some empty jugs and have at it.

It seems that first blooms in Phrags are not always up to their potential is that true? If so how long does it take for them to get good? I also notice that a lot of pictures show Phrags potted in the center of the pot.... I thought they were sympodial. Does that mean they clump from all sides and that's why you pot them in the center?

Did you get your Jason Fischer from OL? I sure mine will have excellent flowers Jerry said he'd pick a nice one for me. For 85 dollars It better be lol!

[quiltergal]

I don't know where my JF came from originally. To me it looks more like Memoria Dick Clement. I think I have a picture or it in my albums along with DW. I really like the form of my DW. I just hope in successive flowerings the color deepens a little.

[Cattleya17]

Originally Posted by quiltergal

I don't know where my JF came from originally. To me it looks more like Memoria Dick Clement. I think I have a picture or it in my albums along with DW. I really like the form of my DW. I just hope in successive flowerings the color deepens a little.

I have the same worry with the DW i hope the flowers are as deep as i have seen in pictures! I know temp plays a role in phrag flower colors but i hope its a nice orange.

I have got to get a grip! I have fallen in love with this Species! there are a few plants that I want to acquire the next two are Phrag. Scarlet O'Hara and Phrag. Peruflora's Spirit. There is so much variety! my collection has been the same for so long that I'm excited for a change and a new challenge.

Originally Posted by terryros

When you have limited space, you have to grit your teeth and get rid of some plants. What I am getting rid of are not bad and they are healthy, but I want to just have high quality plants.

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I know what you mean, I got a couple of impulse buy orchids this year that I really didn't love but just liked so they are going to go bye bye to make space for these two. they are healthy plants and my friends will be happy with them.

[terryros]

It is true that first blooms of Phrags don't always predict what future blooms will be. I think first bloom shapes and colors can give you a good hint of what is to come. Also, with Phrags (and some other orchids) the growing conditions make a big difference in size, coloration, and shape. With many Phrags, including the JF and DW that you are getting, cooler temperatures during bud development will intensify the colors (red and orange).

Also, when you are a beginner in a genera of orchids there is a lot you don't know about the growing, what things should look like (including even when a spike is coming compared to a new leaf), or even what is a great versus a good or only fair bloom of any species or cross. Thus, it is wise to start with moderate priced, but good quality things if you can and I think you are doing this. $85 for a JF and DW that are spiking or blooming size is only a moderate price to me. You can find cheaper Phrags (or other orchids) various places but you don't know what shape they are in or how good a cross was. There are a number of pretty mediocre Jason Fischers and Don Wimbers out there, and yet even these can be pleasing to many people and might be a good start for many because if you are going to mess up, limiting the financial damage at the start makes sense.

Orchids Limited is a place that I go about every other week (I was there today). They clearly focus on high quality plants and this does not come cheaply. Until you see what is involved in producing orchids from seeds to flats to pots and finally to bloom you don't realize how long it takes and how much work is involved. Global trade makes it possible for other parts of the world to produce certain types of orchids in large quantity at low cost and these then make it to our "big box" stores. There is nothing wrong with this. However, US growers can no longer compete with this source and we have continuing loss of US facilities that are actually creating and growing orchids. I think a true hobbyist should be interested in at least partially supporting their most local orchid greenhouses. They are very likely to be specializing in types of orchids that cannot yet be cloned and produced in large volumes overseas and Phrags and Paphs still fall into this category.


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[Cattleya17]

Thanks for the encouragement! Appreciate advice! I knew I could get the best from Orchids Limited shoot for the stars you know, I couldn't think of another place that had Phrags that I trusted. I didn't wanna get a lemon from the getgo. I also have expensive taste lol.

I don't think I will kill them but I learned I need to look for bargains when embarking on a new orchid growing venture. After I bought my plants I found an awesome deal on ebay for three Phrag Besseae plants that are blooming size from Orchid zone ,supposedly, for the very purpose of practice at the great price of 44 dollars! If anyone is interested the listing is still up. Would've bought it myself but I have two great plants on the way. Jerry assured me they are great plants to start with. Easy to grow.

I hope to visit their greenhouses someday they are doing important and excellent work there! If I lived there I would fight tooth and nail for a job there

[Cattleya17]

They are coming today! I will be at work when they arrive I also found a portable R/O filter it's 150 dollars. Need to save to get it. Can I set both plants in a dish of clean water

[naoki]

Cattleya, with RO filter, make sure that you consider the cost of filter media. I originally bought a cheap one, but the replacement cost of filters was pretty expensive (about $100 annually). And this unit took "specialized" filter, so I couldn't get a cheaper filters. So I ordered a new unit from Ray (of First Rays Orchid). His price is pretty good, and the quality seems to be pretty good (and the replacement cost of the filters are much much cheaper). https://www.firstrays.com/cgi/cart/c...1401&keywords=
This one is only $170.

[terryros]

I would add that I think the function of the RO device and filters is dependent on how much you use it and what the starting quality of your water might be. Since I only make about 3 gallons per day with my filter, I have not needed to change the filters in my device for two years. I monitor the EC/ppm of the RO water to be sure that the filter is still producing pure water.

High volume use of a filter with starting water that is fairly hard should have a different "shelf life".


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[naoki]

That's a good point. My well water is > 800ppm, but I thought NY area (Cattleya17's place) has really soft water.