Beginner Phrag. Species

[goods]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a relatively small sized Phrag. species that isn't too picky about culture. I'm having some success with some of the larger hybrids, but I'd like to give species a try too. If you can spare a division, I'd happily buy it, or I may have something to trade. Thanks!

 

[Eric Muehlbauer]

I never thought I would say this, but, at this point, I'd say that besseae is a good beginner species...and certainly the prettiest. (I still think it beats any of its hybrids.) All these years of breeding has made it much easier to grow. It doesn't need strong light, doesn't really have to be kept too cool, even though it can be kept cool. Does great under lights. I'd also recommend pearcei/equadorense/caricinum....they also propagate like mad.

 

[goods]

I guess I should have mentioned that I do have a OZ cross besseae that I acquired as a rescue. It doesn't have a great root system as of now but looks better than when I got it.

I'd like to find one of the "green" flowered species that isn't too hard.

 

[Cheyenne]

Definitely try longifolium. I find it very easy to grow and flower. You can pour the water on, and they are hard to kill. Phrag longifolium var gracile is the minature form. If you can't find any I deflasked some a few months ago and they are growing like weeds.

 

[Linus_Cello]

What about phrag. cardinale "birchwood" (is it still called this or have they renamed it?)?

My concern with bessae is the need for soft water; not sure what your water is like in Louisiana of if you have access to "reverse osmosis" water.

I was trying to find more info on cardinale on a vendor site. I did find the following that may be of interest:

http://woodstreamorchids.com/phragmini.html

Wild Horse Mesa [provisional] (caricinum 'Aileen' AM/AOS x Barbara LeAnn 'Barbara' AM/AOS) - Graceful small-growing plants with branching inflorescences bearing charming raspberry flowers Easy to grow and bloom! 1 available.
3" pot, 5-7" ls Seedlings $25

 

[NYEric]

I think they may have more than one available.
The problem with your question is you want small phrags. The line Woodstream breeds with fischeri in it would be good for you.

 

[Cheyenne]

In his first post Goods said he was looking for compact phrag species. Sure there are alot of compact hybrids, but for species, in addition to longifolium var gracile I would say schilimii. Also percei and some richteri are very compact.

 

[goods]

I'm not necessarily looking for something small compared to say a Pleurothallid. I just knew there were some species that stayed rather compact. I was just trying to stay away from the monsters because my growing area is limited for now. I'm liking the suggestions so far and starting to look into them.

 

[Gcroz]

What about phrag. cardinale "birchwood" (is it still called this or have they renamed it?)?

My concern with bessae is the need for soft water; not sure what your water is like in Louisiana of if you have access to "reverse osmosis" water.

I was trying to find more info on cardinale on a vendor site. I did find the following that may be of interest:

http://woodstreamorchids.com/phragmini.html

Wild Horse Mesa [provisional] (caricinum 'Aileen' AM/AOS x Barbara LeAnn 'Barbara' AM/AOS) - Graceful small-growing plants with branching inflorescences bearing charming raspberry flowers Easy to grow and bloom! 1 available.
3" pot, 5-7" ls Seedlings $25

Phrag. Cardinale 'Birchwood" AM/AOS (schlimii x Sedenii) is a hybrid.

ooo...yuck... this is post 666 for me! :evil:

 

[NYEric]

A good species would be those pearcei that stay small.

 

[Rick]

A good species would be those pearcei that stay small.

I agree pearcei is the easiest and small.

You could get enough divisions to fill a 6" pot in a couple years at the rate they grow.

Carricinum has been turning out to be just as easy for me, but kind of a hard plant to find.

Besseae has become much easier for me since low K and baskets.

Lindlyanum can be pretty easy too, and fairly small compared to sargentianum.

longifolium is indestructible, but with the exception of var gracile these are huge plants.

I recently picked up some fisheri. (This is truly a mini species) Although I killed my first 3 without too much problem (years gone by), these 2 newest ones (from OL) are doing very well with Low K feeding for over a year now.

In general I think phrags are pretty easy. The long petaled/caudatum types are the toughest, and generally not small. Lindenii is probably the smallest. I moved these to basket culture, and low K feeding once again, getting great roots and leaf growth. Rarely see any rot anymore.:wink:

If you are pretty happy with your pleuros I can't see any reason you would do poorly with phrags. With restricted space I'd go for pearcei and fisheri