Phrag Demetria

[wamcq72]

Hi everyone: I have been growing orchids for about 50 yrs. I decided to give Phrags a try. I have a Phrag Demetria, and I see some activity by the base, but I can’t tell if it’s a bloom spike
coming, root, or a new growth. I’m praying for a bloom spike. Where do the bloom spikes emerge from?

 

[monocotman]

Blooms come from the middle of the new growth, as in paphs.
If you can grow paphs you will find phrags quicker to develop. They really like pure water,
David

 

[wamcq72]

Thank you. I do used filtered water, so hopefully I’ll get some blooms one day.

 

[KeysGuy]

Lots of pure water and good air flow at all times.

 

[KateL]

Demetria has a long-petalled parent (caudatum). For me, those a bit harder to bloom. They like a bit more light than some other phrags. Good luck!

 

[Cearbhael]

Hmmm. I am tackling Phrags for the first time as well, was using totally pure water and have special slotted pots to help air get in, fans for circulation, special custom mixed Phrag media etc. I got them last April then we had a wretched HOT summer with temps in the upper 90’s. Suddenly all but 1 of the 8 Phrags have shown extreme distress. Leaves dying back and my Fritz Schomberg currently has roots but NO growth on top! It has totally died back! I was told by expert growers that the extreme heat was to blame. The distress is pretty much over, and I reduced the fertiliser, I continue the weekly flushing with pure water, but see no “forward movement” no new growth and no change in the current growth! Sigh! Basically I am told I am doing everything right and things should turn around! I just am impatient I guess!

 

[awesomei]

Hi everyone: I have been growing orchids for about 50 yrs. I decided to give Phrags a try. I have a Phrag Demetria, and I see some activity by the base, but I can’t tell if it’s a bloom spike
coming, root, or a new growth. I’m praying for a bloom spike. Where do the bloom spikes emerge from?

From the base.

 

[awesomei]

Hmmm. I am tackling Phrags for the first time as well, was using totally pure water and have special slotted pots to help air get in, fans for circulation, special custom mixed Phrag media etc. I got them last April then we had a wretched HOT summer with temps in the upper 90’s. Suddenly all but 1 of the 8 Phrags have shown extreme distress. Leaves dying back and my Fritz Schomberg currently has roots but NO growth on top! It has totally died back! I was told by expert growers that the extreme heat was to blame. The distress is pretty much over, and I reduced the fertiliser, I continue the weekly flushing with pure water, but see no “forward movement” no new growth and no change in the current growth! Sigh! Basically I am told I am doing everything right and things should turn around! I just am impatient I guess!

Most Phrags. especially those that have some kovachii in the lineage hate heat. I have hundreds of Phrags and they are a challage in our Texas heat!

 

[Linus_Cello]

Most Phrags. especially those that have some kovachii in the lineage hate heat. I have hundreds of Phrags and they are a challage in our Texas heat!

How do you grow them? Maybe s/h will help keep them cooler with evapotransporation?

 

[awesomei]

I have all my Kovachii hybrids in one area of my greenhouse where I have an A/c unit to keep them cooler. They real do hate the heat!

 

[Cearbhael]

I have all my Kovachii hybrids in one area of my greenhouse where I have an A/c unit to keep them cooler. They real do hate the heat!

I am seriously considering trying a small ac unit just for them.

 

[KeysGuy]

I have a dozen or so different Phrags in my collection in Key West. They get plenty hot in the summer but they are outdoors so obviously also get a ton of rain during the summer rainy season. They also benefit from overhead misters directly adjacent to their bench that run 2x/day. You can grow them hot as long as they get plenty of water and occasional cooling by misters.
Regarding kovachii, I would never attempt a species like that where I am but I have a couple crossed with warmer growing species and they do fine for me.

 

[Don I]

Welcome
Don

 

[Linus_Cello]

I have a dozen or so different Phrags in my collection in Key West. They get plenty hot in the summer but they are outdoors so obviously also get a ton of rain during the summer rainy season. They also benefit from overhead misters directly adjacent to their bench that run 2x/day. You can grow them hot as long as they get plenty of water and occasional cooling by misters.
Regarding kovachii, I would never attempt a species like that where I am but I have a couple crossed with warmer growing species and they do fine for me.

Which KV crosses?

 

[Cearbhael]

I have a dozen or so different Phrags in my collection in Key West. They get plenty hot in the summer but they are outdoors so obviously also get a ton of rain during the summer rainy season. They also benefit from overhead misters directly adjacent to their bench that run 2x/day. You can grow them hot as long as they get plenty of water and occasional cooling by misters.
Regarding kovachii, I would never attempt a species like that where I am but I have a couple crossed with warmer growing species and they do fine for me.

Well, our 3 month heat spell was almost rain free! I didn’t leave them outside! I am including misting to modify temps next year! We don’t normally have 3 month’s of 90+ temps or summer long drought!
My collection is all Kovachii and Besseae primary hybrids! The Phrag that breezes through without any visible distress was Ecuagenera Gigi (seed parent Phrag Caudatum, pollen parent Phrag Kovachii)
So, maybe the Caudatum parent could take the heat better??

 

[awesomei]

Yes, the long petal phrags; caudatum, humboldti, willissii and their hybrids prefer much higher temps than kovachii. Most of the long petal species live in the Amazon basin while kovachii live high up in the Andes on the pacific coast.

 

[KeysGuy]

Which KV crosses?

Eumilia Arias (schlimii x kovachii) Incan Treasure (kovachii x longifolium) Peruflora's Cirila Alca (kovachii x dalessandroi)

 

[Karp60]

This is very helpful, I have ventured into Phrags first season this year so wish me luck. It is going to be trial and error I guess, but who has not killed any in the process?

 

[cnycharles]

This is very helpful, I have ventured into Phrags first season this year so wish me luck. It is going to be trial and error I guess, but who has not killed any in the process?

The only person who has not killed something, is one who just bought something not long enough ago to have had it die yet. … I’m sure there are people who have killed their orchid bringing it home in a hot or cold vehicle

 

[abax]

Cool mist humidifiers and fans are a wonderful way to grow Phrags. during hot weather...or
any weather actually.