Phragmipedium Lovely Lynne 4n x sib update

[monocotman]

Since I last posted about these seedlings, grown from flask, they’ve had a summers growth in Cornwall against a west facing window and have grown considerably. Most of the 25 seedlings made a new lead but two just continued with the existing one.
There are now about eight of them in sheath or bud. They love growing in the seed trays with a thin layer of leca and rockwool. Moss growth on top of this is excellent. Digging down into the compost you find that there is a mass of roots everywhere.
The trays have no holes and I just flood them about once a week with water plus low level feed and drain off the excess after a few minutes. It’s very easy.
I should get a good idea of flower potential after these have bloomed. Hopefully there will be a couple of good ones.

regards
David

 

[terryros]

Tetraploidy seems clear in many of those leaves. What is your guess about how long until a first one blooms?

 

[monocotman]

Terry,
the plant on the extreme left has a fuzzy bud just starting to colour up. Maybe a couple of weeks at most. These plants are much bigger than the small seedling that flowered in the spring. They should give a much better idea of cross potential. I’d love to find a couple of plants that don’t have the purplish red colouring and maybe lean more towards either kovachii or besseae.
David

 

[NYEric]

Nice, keep us posted. I wish I could get a couple.

 

[sergeharvey]

I also have about 25 (from Mike Tibbs) that are just a little smaller than yours with some sending up side shoots. Mine are in individual (Orchiata) pots but I plan to repot the larger ones in Grodan cubes. Can you explain the yellow streaking I see in some leaves?

 

[Elite Orchids]

looking good - can't wait for them to flower! think i'm about 6/9 months behind you.

 

[monocotman]

the streaking occurred over last winter as pale areas on the new leaves and was probably underfeeding. I went up from one scoop of rainmix to two per bucket and it disappeared on the newer leaves.

 

[terryros]

Terry,
the plant on the extreme left has a fuzzy bud just starting to colour up. Maybe a couple of weeks at most. These plants are much bigger than the small seedling that flowered in the spring. They should give a much better idea of cross potential. I’d love to find a couple of plants that don’t have the purplish red colouring and maybe lean more towards either kovachii or besseae.
David

I can’t imagine how you are going to divide into individual plants with the totally enmeshed root system!

 

[monocotman]

Terry,
I’ve no idea. It may never happen. We will see how the plants develop over time. It’s a great deal easier to look after 16 plants in this tray than separately. Plus they take up less space when it’s at a premium,
David

 

[NYEric]

Do you really think that will be enough room for Pk hybrids?