Phrags growing weirdly

[Forever-mango]

I have noticed some of the new growths of my Phrags (mainly besseae crosses) have a stem like structure that grows upwards before growing the leaves. Imagine a flowering stem like structure but instead of a flower bud its a new growth. Then after awhile new roots grow between the growth and the stem. Hard to explain, so got some photos.

Phrag Hanna Po Pow




Phrag Hanna Po Pow plant 2


And my Phrag besseae species and crosses.


Kind regards
Stephen

[Brooke]

I had one like this and eventually tossed it. It was a pain to separate and replant the growth so the roots would be in the media to receive the needed moisture.

Obviously this type would be perfect walking up a hill, but hard to contain in a pot.

Brooke

[orchids4me]

Interesting.... Wonder if you can create a slanted trough with media so it can walk up hill...
I'm interested in what other have to say.

[Forever-mango]

I just checked the first plant and apparently its got a flowering bud, so i even will little roots attached to it, it seems to be getting its nutrients and water through the thick stem. The looks of it isnt concerning me since its growing very well, its just the first ive seen phrags grow like this.

[LouisW]

I have also noticed that P. besseae and some of its hybrids do that. As far as I know its totaly natural. It would be difficult for me to deal with because there is no way the roots would stay alive in thin air here in the dry but perhaps you could pile up some sphag to get some moisture to the new growth.

If it didnt need to be so moist i might even say people should try mounting them. That would be cool to see.

[kmarch]

Yup, this is not weird growth for besseae hybrids. It's typical for many to one degree or another. They are climbers.

[hera]

Pot it deeper. When you repot, get a deep but narrow pot and cover the old growth. Bring the new growth to just below the surface to encourage rooting. THis is how besseae hybrids grow/ climb. You will lose the leaves on the old growth with this method, but the roots will be there to support the newer growth.

[BluPeaches]

They look so healthy! I have one that does that as well. Great growing!

[Forever-mango]

Originally Posted by hera

Pot it deeper. When you repot, get a deep but narrow pot and cover the old growth. Bring the new growth to just below the surface to encourage rooting. THis is how besseae hybrids grow/ climb. You will lose the leaves on the old growth with this method, but the roots will be there to support the newer growth.

Just wondering, when re-potting, can i cut off the first old growth and replant the new growths into a separate pot?

[LouisW]

You could but the plant would probably always be in a state of recovery. The more growths it has the stronger the plant. Perhaps its just not the plant for you.

What kind of light does it get? If you up the light it may produce shorter growths.

[madphrag]

Originally Posted by kmarch

Yup, this is not weird growth for besseae hybrids. It's typical for many to one degree or another. They are climbers.

Thanks for pointing that out. I have only one besseae hybrid in my collection, (Sergeant Eric), and it does the very same thing. It has almost always been in bloom for the year and a half that I've had it so I didn't even give it a second thought. It's my avatar, BTW.

[hera]

Originally Posted by Forever-mango

Just wondering, when re-potting, can i cut off the first old growth and replant the new growths into a separate pot?

Its best to keep the older part of the plant with the new growth because it will support the new growth. If you had a significantly bigger plant, then you could split up growths some. It would be best for now to keep them together.

[Forever-mango]

Thanks Marie. I noticed that on some of the elevated growths, new growths are developing. Should I just leave these also?

[hera]

Plant it as deep as you can and for now leave the growths all together.

[AtantaR]

I also have the same kind of growth but its a paph. not a phrag.. Its been growing like this for two years. I was told before that its Paph. Callosum influences its growth habit. So interesting isnt it? Here is a link to the thread that has a picture. Lithophytic Paphiopedilum
Glad i could find someone with similar results< thanks

[Ron]

Hi very interesting, I had 2 phrag. bessiae for many years and none grew like that.
perhaps you could cut a pot side open and wrap it around the growth, fill with your favorite mix and in a year or so after the roots have grown, cut it of and then a new plants potted up
Bit like my Phal amabilis Kiki see at.

Saving a Keiki

[Susie11]

The growths are called stolons and they happen frequently with Besseae type phrags. The best thing to do is to pot it in a deeper pot and if necessary cover the older growth's leaves until you have got the medium up to the newest growth. Cutting it off is not the answer as the plant will struggle to survive so it is best to keep it all together. Apparently rose pots are a good pot to use as they are deep and will allow the newest growth to be potted properly. I have a stolon myself on my Besseae var Flavum. I will not be removing it instead I will find a deep pot and cover the older growth until the medium is flush with the new growth.





With a new growth starting


Hope this helps.

[katrina]

I had a phrag that did this and like Brooke...I pitched it. I didn't care for the growth habit.

Susie -- in pic number 2...I don't know if you noticed but you have a mealy bug there.

[Susie11]

Originally Posted by katrina

I had a phrag that did this and like Brooke...I pitched it. I didn't care for the growth habit.

Susie -- in pic number 2...I don't know if you noticed but you have a mealy bug there.

LOL. Yes I 'did' have mealy bugs in that pic but I used some meths on them and they never came back. That is an old pic.

As for pitching the plant I think that is rather unnecessary as it is really just cosmetic. I have a new growth starting on the stolon and so far it appears to be staying at the same level as the older growth. I would never throw away a perfectly healthy plant just because it was stolonious in nature. This Besseae var Flavum has recently flowered for me and managed to keep two blooms on the same spike for about three weeks. It is also branching which is very rare for this type of Besseae so I am glad that I am not a 'thrower'.

[Daethen]

How about if you were to get a piece of wood or bark and put sphag on it and put it in a pot with the plant next to it. It could sort of climb the wood and the sphag would pull moisture up to the new growths? Just a thought. It would be semi-mounted that way.

[katrina]

Originally Posted by Susie11

LOL. Yes I 'did' have mealy bugs in that pic but I used some meths on them and they never came back. That is an old pic.

Sometimes those little buggers can be sneaky so I thought I better mention it.

Originally Posted by Susie11

As for pitching the plant I think that is rather unnecessary as it is really just cosmetic.

I wasn't suggesting anyone else pitch it for this reason...just something I opted to do. At this point in my collecting I am spacially challenge...severely...so if it wants space on one of my shelves it has to be 100% loved. I didn't like the gangly looking growth habit...so out it went. The one I had continued to climb...it wasn't just one growth...each one was little higher than the previous and I felt it was messy looking.

[koshki]

I learned recently that besseaes are "stoloniferous"...that is, they form stolons or runners. Since besseaes in the wild grow on steep, wet rocks, the habit you are experiencing is suited well its native habitat, as they will climb the rock face. Must be a sight in person, but definitely a pain in the pot!

[AtantaR]

What about Paphiopedilums??? Lithophytic Paphiopedilum