Phrag kovachii X Andean Fire

[Chuck]

This is a large and vigorous plant. The leaves are 3 inches wide and the plant is 20 inches across. The bloom is 5.75 inches across. The last time it bloomed it gave 6 blooms in succession. There are at least 3 buds on the plant now in addition to the current bloom. The bloom is far from flat but I like it.

 

[SlipperKing]

Interesting outcome

 

[NYEric]

Yay besseae hybrids! Lovely color.

 

[SlipperFan]

Very lovely color. So delicate and soft.

 

[Carkin]

I love the colour too!

 

[raymond]

nice

 

[Cheyenne]

Looks very big Chuck. The plant is pristine. You could not ask for a better looking plant. I like the shape of the flower, it would be nice if it had a little more vibrant color. But nice looking nevertheless.
On most of your phrags I can see some kind of rock in the mix. What are you using now?

 

[phrag guy]

very nice plant and flower Chuck, I would of hoped for the flower to be darker but it is still nice

 

[eteson]

Chuck, nice plant! love the soft pink.

 

[Chuck]

Looks very big Chuck. The plant is pristine. You could not ask for a better looking plant. I like the shape of the flower, it would be nice if it had a little more vibrant color. But nice looking nevertheless.
On most of your phrags I can see some kind of rock in the mix. What are you using now?

Hi. For a long time I put a layer of pea gravel on the top of any mix I was using with the intension of reducing surface evaporation. It was my attempt to keep the mix more uniformly moist. It also helped stabilize newly repotted plants. I am now using limestone gravel.

Chuck

 

[SlipperFan]

Hi. For a long time I put a layer of pea gravel on the top of any mix I was using with the intension of reducing surface evaporation. It was my attempt to keep the mix more uniformly moist. It also helped stabilize newly repotted plants. I am now using limestone gravel.

Chuck

That's interesting. I wonder how it would work in the mix, as well as on the surface?

 

[Chuck]

That's interesting. I wonder how it would work in the mix, as well as on the surface?

I use it as drainage material in the bottom of pots also.

I have a couple of flood-drain hydroponic set ups. The plants are potted in a mix of equal parts limestone gravel, clay pellets and diatomite. They seem to be doing fine.

I have a terrestrial mix that I "open up" in larger containers. I use limestone gravel, diatomite and coarse sand to do that. The terrestrial mix has fine limestone gravel as one of it's components.

I can't measure a benefit because I don't have the space to do controlled studies but something that is cheap, cold water soluble, a buffer and a potential source of calcium seems to be a reasonable candidate to me. The only downside I see is that it is heavy but that isn't always a disadvantage when it comes to stabilizing large plants.

Chuck

 

[SlipperFan]

Thanks, Chuck.

 

[Ozpaph]

nice big petals

 

[abax]

I wonder just how well Phrags. might do with just hydroton in a saucer of
rain water and weekly fertilizing with K-Lite in a very humid greenhouse?

 

[NYEric]

I wonder just how well Phrags. might do with just hydroton in a saucer of
rain water and weekly fertilizing with K-Lite in a very humid greenhouse?

Depends on a lot of things, which Phrags, airflow, temp...

 

[Phrag-Plus]

Very nice flower and interesting colouration! Great form too...

 

[abax]

Wuh oh, I'll have to do some research before I get too enthusiastic about
Phrags. Eric, would you recommend an easy first Phrag. for a warm greenhouse (low temp. 60F/ high temp. mid-80s), high humidity, very good
air movement, Paph.-Phal. light?

 

[Susie11]

I love it!

 

[eaborne]

Superbly grown!