Phragmipedium longifolium

[palito]

This is for the phrag experts

I was offered a division of a Phragmipedium longifolium, however I'm not sure they can tolerate warm temperatures...from my understanding most -if not all- phrags like cool temperatures. Is this plant the exception?

[gore42]

They handle warm temperatures very well, don't worry too much about that. This particular plant has been blooming (on branching spikes) for the past 8 months, including the whole summer.... during which time it was in the low 90s much of the time. I don't know how much higher it could go and be safe, but I imagine it could go higher as long as it has LOTS of pure, mineral-free water.



Keep in mind, though, that they are large plants, and grow very quickly... after just a couple of years, they'll need their own greenhouse But they spike easily and frequently!

As Ever,
Matthew Gore

[palito]

thanks gore42!!! I just found your website

are there any other phrags (and hybrids) that can tolerate warm temperatures?

[kmarch]

Actually polito, I have never thought of Phrags as cool growing orchids. I'm not sure where you heard that. Before moving down under I had around 70-75 Phrags, probably 55-60 hybrids and about 15 species plants including besseaes and schlimiis. I grew all of them in intermediate conditions, winter nights as low as 55-60, summer days as high as 90+ I've never thought of Phrags as cool growing orchids and have never heard them called that.

So pretty much any Phrag you buy will most likely be ok in your conditions. when it gets hot you have to water them really a lot (2-3 times a week depending on how hot, how dry, and the mix you have them in) and all but the caudatum types sit in saucers of water year-round. i grew my caudatum types exactly like a Paph but wiht more light, Cattleya light even. I found popular besseae hybrids like Phrag Hanna Popow, St Ouen, Mem Dick Clements, and one of my all time favorites Don Wimbur to be very easy to grow and bloom. If you like the green ones, I highly recommend Harbinger's Grasshopper, Sorcerer's Apprentice, Rumwall, the ever popular Grande, and another of my favorites, Predator.

Go Phrag shopping and have yourself a feild day!

[palito]

thanks again kmarch! I had read somewhere that most preferred cooler temperatures because they came from mountain areas, but I guess they aren't that picky.

[gore42]

Actually, a lot of Phrag species do prefer cooler temperatures, especially besseae. They can be grown warmer, but will bloom poorly. However, most hybrids are crosses that have at least one warmer growing parent, so they do well in warmer conditions. They will all bloom better in cooler conditions, as the cool temperatures produce darker pigments.

You might want to check out www.slipperorchids.info for species specific information about temperatures and habitat... there's too much to list here

As Ever,
Matthew Gore

[kmarch]

It is true that my Phrag St Ouen bloomed with a darker red in winter than in summer so yes, cooler temps produce better colour in the micropetalums and their hybrids.

[prisana]

I have 3 Phrags that I've been watering with tap water..is that ok? I've only had them about a month. Do I have to go buy some bottled water to water them with? It hasn't been raining enough for me to collect rainwater for them. Also, 2 of them are in sphag ( Sorcerer's Apprentice and Eric Young ) They seem to slurp up all the water in the saucers in matter of minutes. Should I put them in bark mix ?

[kmarch]

It depends on what your tap water is like. If it is high in minerals (hard) or if it is softened than it won't be good for your Phrags. I used tap water on all my Phrags, even the water sensitive besseae and they grew fine and bloomed, but we had really good tap water where I lived.

[prisana]

Thanks Kevin. I don't think my tap water is that hard, I haven't seen any deposits on any of my pot. I'll have to double check with the city's water quality web page just to make sure.