Hi Folks,

I have bought 2 new phragmipediums and 1 paph.

Phrag. longifolium 'Green Vista'
Phrag. pearcei 'Birchwood'
Paph. rothschildianum 'Spot' x self

I have had good luck under lights with paphs and have tried the phrags in
the past with no luck. I live on the Gulf Coast close to Houston were it is
humid, hot, and wet most of the time. Do I need to keep the phrags sitting
in a saucer of water? Should I keep them inside under my light stand? I've
got good advice here before and thought I would try again.

Thanks,
Lisa Holmes

LISA HOLMES wrote:
> Hi Folks,
>
> I have bought 2 new phragmipediums and 1 paph.
>
> Phrag. longifolium 'Green Vista'
> Phrag. pearcei 'Birchwood'
> Paph. rothschildianum 'Spot' x self
>
> I have had good luck under lights with paphs and have tried the phrags in
> the past with no luck. I live on the Gulf Coast close to Houston were it is
> humid, hot, and wet most of the time. Do I need to keep the phrags sitting
> in a saucer of water? Should I keep them inside under my light stand? I've
> got good advice here before and thought I would try again.
>
> Thanks,
> Lisa Holmes
>
>

For those species, I personally wouldn't leave them sitting in saucers
of water. Actually you have some pretty tolerant plants, they will take
pretty much anything you give them, so do whatever is most convenient
for you. For phrags, err on the side of overwatering (when in doubt, go
ahead and water).

You might want to try Ray's semihydroponics method for phrags. I use
this technique for almost all of mine. http://firstrays.com

Not sure why you lost the first ones. I have not had the pleasure of
growing plants in Houston, just in the (quite tropical lately) great
white north, so perhaps somebody closer to your climate has better advice.

Rob

--
Rob's Rules: http://littlefrogfarm.com
1) There is always room for one more orchid
2) There is always room for two more orchids
2a) See rule 1
3) When one has insufficient credit to obtain more
orchids, obtain more credit

I tried several different ways of potting phrags, lost 2 and almost lost 3
others. I live in southern SC so we're talking the same kind of hot & humid
weather. I grow in a greenhouse. Home AC might be a slight advantage except
for the drying effect. My paphs do fine in CHC mix and 70% shade. The phrags
are in brighter shade, in CHC in clay pots sitting in a saucer of water
within 5' of the evaporative cooling pads. My longifolium is blooming for
the first time (see abpo) and I have a Cardinal-Schlim X besseae that has a
strong flower stem but hasn't opened any buds yet. And the foliage is great
(finally!). HP Norton of Orchidview (phal specialist) has a small private gh
that sits (literally) on the Santee R outside Charleston and he has a
marvelous collection of phrags. Of course, he runs an ac in it 24/7/365. I'm
not that committed yet. If I do get there, I'm afraid my wife will have me
committed. Good luck
Gary

"LISA HOLMES" <lisashepholmes [at] verizon.net> wrote in message
news:HUFfg.16152$lN5.11597 [at] trnddc04...
> Hi Folks,
>
> I have bought 2 new phragmipediums and 1 paph.
>
> Phrag. longifolium 'Green Vista'
> Phrag. pearcei 'Birchwood'
> Paph. rothschildianum 'Spot' x self
>
> I have had good luck under lights with paphs and have tried the phrags in
> the past with no luck. I live on the Gulf Coast close to Houston were it
> is humid, hot, and wet most of the time. Do I need to keep the phrags
> sitting in a saucer of water? Should I keep them inside under my light
> stand? I've got good advice here before and thought I would try again.
>
> Thanks,
> Lisa Holmes
>

On Thu, 01 Jun 2006 14:09:47 -0400, Rob <rob [at] littlefrogfarm.com>
wrote:

>LISA HOLMES wrote:
>> Hi Folks,
>>
>> I have bought 2 new phragmipediums and 1 paph.
>>
>> Phrag. longifolium 'Green Vista'
>> Phrag. pearcei 'Birchwood'
>> Paph. rothschildianum 'Spot' x self
>>
>> I have had good luck under lights with paphs and have tried the phrags in
>> the past with no luck. I live on the Gulf Coast close to Houston were it is
>> humid, hot, and wet most of the time. Do I need to keep the phrags sitting
>> in a saucer of water? Should I keep them inside under my light stand? I've
>> got good advice here before and thought I would try again.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Lisa Holmes
>>
>>
>
>For those species, I personally wouldn't leave them sitting in saucers
>of water. Actually you have some pretty tolerant plants, they will take
>pretty much anything you give them, so do whatever is most convenient
>for you. For phrags, err on the side of overwatering (when in doubt, go
>ahead and water).
>
>You might want to try Ray's semihydroponics method for phrags. I use
>this technique for almost all of mine. http://firstrays.com
>
>Not sure why you lost the first ones. I have not had the pleasure of
>growing plants in Houston, just in the (quite tropical lately) great
>white north, so perhaps somebody closer to your climate has better advice.
>
>Rob

I would second the S/H method. It allows the plant to decide the
amount of water it wants and grow its roots to accommodate that. It
also avoids the messy saucers of slop. [Cat (feline) temptation and
child attractant] We grow in a gh in Denver - hot days and cool
nights - no wet walls. So no cooling except the humidity change of a
misted gh.

We also have the Phrags up to the west wall on the north end of the
house - but it is still quite bright against the glass. Phrags will
reward your extra light with better blooms. Some say to grow them dim
to get stronger reds... I can not say if it works. Ours are all quite
good color wise.

Have fun.
SuE
http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/main.php

Thanks Susan,

I will try the S/H method. If it works, I'm going to try it on my phals.

Lisa

"Susan Erickson" <sue [at] evilsoft.org> wrote in message
news:ejiu72t4cqpnqdhvdo4u36asmaf2bbf24q [at] 4ax.com...
> On Thu, 01 Jun 2006 14:09:47 -0400, Rob <rob [at] littlefrogfarm.com>
> wrote:
>
>>LISA HOLMES wrote:
>>> Hi Folks,
>>>
>>> I have bought 2 new phragmipediums and 1 paph.
>>>
>>> Phrag. longifolium 'Green Vista'
>>> Phrag. pearcei 'Birchwood'
>>> Paph. rothschildianum 'Spot' x self
>>>
>>> I have had good luck under lights with paphs and have tried the phrags
>>> in
>>> the past with no luck. I live on the Gulf Coast close to Houston were
>>> it is
>>> humid, hot, and wet most of the time. Do I need to keep the phrags
>>> sitting
>>> in a saucer of water? Should I keep them inside under my light stand?
>>> I've
>>> got good advice here before and thought I would try again.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Lisa Holmes
>>>
>>>
>>
>>For those species, I personally wouldn't leave them sitting in saucers
>>of water. Actually you have some pretty tolerant plants, they will take
>>pretty much anything you give them, so do whatever is most convenient
>>for you. For phrags, err on the side of overwatering (when in doubt, go
>>ahead and water).
>>
>>You might want to try Ray's semihydroponics method for phrags. I use
>>this technique for almost all of mine. http://firstrays.com
>>
>>Not sure why you lost the first ones. I have not had the pleasure of
>>growing plants in Houston, just in the (quite tropical lately) great
>>white north, so perhaps somebody closer to your climate has better advice.
>>
>>Rob
>
> I would second the S/H method. It allows the plant to decide the
> amount of water it wants and grow its roots to accommodate that. It
> also avoids the messy saucers of slop. [Cat (feline) temptation and
> child attractant] We grow in a gh in Denver - hot days and cool
> nights - no wet walls. So no cooling except the humidity change of a
> misted gh.
>
> We also have the Phrags up to the west wall on the north end of the
> house - but it is still quite bright against the glass. Phrags will
> reward your extra light with better blooms. Some say to grow them dim
> to get stronger reds... I can not say if it works. Ours are all quite
> good color wise.
>
> Have fun.
> SuE
> http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/main.php

I'm with everyone else on the light!

I used to grow my phrags at the lower light area of the greenhouse. I had
great leaves most of the time until they got floppy from trying to reach for
more light. Last year I moved them to the top shelf of the greenhouse where
they get lots of light.....as much as the catts! Now I get good strong
growth that doesn't flop. I had some great blooms this past year.

They are at the end of the GH closest to the swamp cooler so it is a bit
cooler near them when it's really hot.

Give them bright light!

Good Growing,
Gene




"LISA HOLMES" <lisashepholmes [at] verizon.net> wrote in message
news:HUFfg.16152$lN5.11597 [at] trnddc04...
> Hi Folks,
>
> I have bought 2 new phragmipediums and 1 paph.
>
> Phrag. longifolium 'Green Vista'
> Phrag. pearcei 'Birchwood'
> Paph. rothschildianum 'Spot' x self
>
> I have had good luck under lights with paphs and have tried the phrags in
> the past with no luck. I live on the Gulf Coast close to Houston were it
is
> humid, hot, and wet most of the time. Do I need to keep the phrags
sitting
> in a saucer of water? Should I keep them inside under my light stand?
I've
> got good advice here before and thought I would try again.
>
> Thanks,
> Lisa Holmes
>
>

I have a 'longifolium' and several other Phrags in some of Ray's semi-hydro
pots. The potting mix is 1/3 each of charcoal, rock wool, and perlite.
The 'longifolium' blooms regularly starting around January until October or
November or whenever I cut the spike because its getting too long. Around 4
or 5 feet last year.

I have other Phrags in some of Ray's pots in his semi-hydro media and they
seem to be doing well. Only one is large enough to bloom so far and it is a
Phrag Chuck Acker. It bloomed well in January of this year and has many new
growths growing now. I'm looking forward to Jan of '07 or whenever it
decides to bloom.

All of my orchids are under lights, about 1,500 watts worth in a 9' X 12'
area in my basement in MN.
Bob

Sue,

The deeper colour comes from growing phrags cooler. I get a darker
color when I gorw them in the gh with temps in the 50F during the
night and a lighter color in the house when I bring them in. They are
also growing in S/H, in my case perlite and all manner of containers.
Currently have Phrag Cover Field in bloom, with the bloom started in
the gh. Will post a picture in the next few days in the picture news
group.

Gideon


On Thu, 01 Jun 2006 14:19:09 -0600, Susan Erickson <sue [at] evilsoft.org>
wrote:

>On Thu, 01 Jun 2006 14:09:47 -0400, Rob <rob [at] littlefrogfarm.com>
>wrote:
>
>>LISA HOLMES wrote:
>>> Hi Folks,
>>>
>>> I have bought 2 new phragmipediums and 1 paph.
>>>
>>> Phrag. longifolium 'Green Vista'
>>> Phrag. pearcei 'Birchwood'
>>> Paph. rothschildianum 'Spot' x self
>>>
>>> I have had good luck under lights with paphs and have tried the phrags in
>>> the past with no luck. I live on the Gulf Coast close to Houston were it is
>>> humid, hot, and wet most of the time. Do I need to keep the phrags sitting
>>> in a saucer of water? Should I keep them inside under my light stand? I've
>>> got good advice here before and thought I would try again.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Lisa Holmes
>>>
>>>
>>
>>For those species, I personally wouldn't leave them sitting in saucers
>>of water. Actually you have some pretty tolerant plants, they will take
>>pretty much anything you give them, so do whatever is most convenient
>>for you. For phrags, err on the side of overwatering (when in doubt, go
>>ahead and water).
>>
>>You might want to try Ray's semihydroponics method for phrags. I use
>>this technique for almost all of mine. http://firstrays.com
>>
>>Not sure why you lost the first ones. I have not had the pleasure of
>>growing plants in Houston, just in the (quite tropical lately) great
>>white north, so perhaps somebody closer to your climate has better advice.
>>
>>Rob
>
>I would second the S/H method. It allows the plant to decide the
>amount of water it wants and grow its roots to accommodate that. It
>also avoids the messy saucers of slop. [Cat (feline) temptation and
>child attractant] We grow in a gh in Denver - hot days and cool
>nights - no wet walls. So no cooling except the humidity change of a
>misted gh.
>
>We also have the Phrags up to the west wall on the north end of the
>house - but it is still quite bright against the glass. Phrags will
>reward your extra light with better blooms. Some say to grow them dim
>to get stronger reds... I can not say if it works. Ours are all quite
>good color wise.
>
>Have fun.
>SuE
>http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/main.php