A big Phrag. Jason Fischer

[southernbelle]

Incredible!! PeteM you and I have our work cut out for us!!

 

[southernbelle]

Thanks! It's grown S/H-style in LECA-type medium. I used LED grow lights about 12 hours per day and mist about three times daily. Temperatures never get above 75 or so. Reverse osmosis water with MSU fertilizer diluted about 1/4 to 1/2 strength.

12 hours a day year round?

 

[e-spice]

12 hours a day year round?

I just verified that the lights actually run 10.5 hours year round, not 12 hours like I first said.

 

[terryros]

I just verified that the lights actually run 10.5 hours year round, not 12 hours like I first said.

In the natural environment, besseae, at about 6 degrees S latitude, has days ranging from only 11.7 to 12.3 hours. That suggests that day length is not much of a signal for plant growth or reproduction phases. Although 10.5 hours is more than an hour shorter than besseae's shortest day, giving enough light intensity can provide the total number of photons the plant needs, even in 10.5 hours. They could then grow and bloom well, as you have shown. Phrag. lindleyanum var. sargentianum in Jason Fischer comes from about 8 degrees S latitude, so a day length varies from 11.5 to 12.5 hours. Can you quantify the light intensity you give your plants?

 

[e-spice]

In the natural environment, besseae, at about 6 degrees S latitude, has days ranging from only 11.7 to 12.3 hours. That suggests that day length is not much of a signal for plant growth or reproduction phases. Although 10.5 hours is more than an hour shorter than besseae's shortest day, giving enough light intensity can provide the total number of photons the plant needs, even in 10.5 hours. They could then grow and bloom well, as you have shown. Phrag. lindleyanum var. sargentianum in Jason Fischer comes from about 8 degrees S latitude, so a day length varies from 11.5 to 12.5 hours. Can you quantify the light intensity you give your plants?

Thanks for the info. I don't have numbers but can say the lighting for my phrags is a little less than cattleya lighting. Cattleyas are grown (and bloom) near the center of my light stand, where the light is most intense. Phrags grow on the edges where it is a little less intense.

 

[southernbelle]

Thanks for the info. I don't have numbers but can say the lighting for my phrags is a little less than cattleya lighting. Cattleyas are grown (and bloom) near the center of my light stand, where the light is most intense. Phrags grow on the edges where it is a little less intense.

That’s interesting!! So your catts don’t get above 75 degrees or so either. How do they grow and bloom? Are they ‘hearty’ growers/bloomers as well?
As an aside, you are growing the JF exactly how FrankRC told me to grow mine at the last Paph Forum. A lot of light, cattleya light, without the summer heat. You are obviously close enough to their natural habitat so that your shorter day length for your lights is not something they notice! Thanks so much! Very helpful.

 

[Ozpaph]

superbly grown and flowered