Phragmipedilum Eric Young and rockwool.

[tom499]

Along with a P. appletonianum I got today ( ) I finally got my first Phrag.

Its a single mature growth with a young growth, in rockwool. I had a gander at the roots, there arent many but they look alright. I figure the new growth will put out more anyway.

I've never had rockwool before, I found the phrag guide kmarch made in another thread, and my phrag sounds like the wet type, but I wondered if using rockwool and a saucer of water may make it too wet and cause rot.

Any advice would be greatfully recieved

Tom499

[kellyincville]

I would recommend against using rockwool in a saucer of water. What causes rot in the water-loving phrags is lack of air to the roots. I think saturated rockwool would cause that kind of environment. If you would like to try the saucer method, I would recommend moving to a bark based mix.

Congrats on the new plant!

[tom499]

So could i use the rockwool if i didnt keep the saucer of water, and watered more like a paph?

Many thanks for the help

Tom499

[kellyincville]

I haven't used rockwool much because I don't care for it as a medium so I can't give you the specifics. But you would want to keep it damp...whether that it watering more/less/same as your paphs I don't know.

[tom499]

Thanks for your help, I think I may repot it then into a bark mix with abit of spag.

Keeping a saucer topped up every so often seems less trouble than guessing when a plant needs watering.

[kellyincville]

Saucers do make it easier

One thing to note- make sure that you empty out the saucer occasionally and wash any deposits that might be on the bottom instead of always letting the water be absorbed or evaporated. The evaporated solids can increase the ppm of the new water you add and phrags are sensitive to that.

[tom499]

ooo what about hydroton? The H/S stuff, but without bothering with making sure the roots dont sit in water technique?

I've got some of that too you see.

[Brooke]

I grow several phrags using Prime Agra in s/h with their roots enjoying the water. I also have several with Phrag. bessae as a parent and they DON"T like it. For them I use a coir mix that includes sponge rock and diatomite and sit them in a saucer of water.

I know someone in Europe that grows fabulous phals in rock wool only but it doesn't appeal to me. Looks like a wet sponge.

Brooke

[janet_a]

hmm. so my jason fischer, which i put in s/h in november, might do better in bark sitting in a puddle? it's growing, albeit very slowly.

[Brooke]

Janet it is only my experience with the bessae offspring I can vouch for, your's might be different. But yes, my Jason Fischer is now in a 2" pot, with sphag/tree fern to regrow his roots. I lost them all off of Jason :>( My Phrag, kovochii x bessae also had to be moved - it had roots but not near enough to suit me. I have another bessae cross too I just moved back but sitting here, I forget the name.

You can take a peek and if you have roots, I wouldn't change anything.

Brooke

[kmarch]

Excellent choices Tom! Paphs and Phrags....hard to beat that from where I sit. I can offer no practical advice on rock wool. I've never used it. but it sounds as if others have so you're in good hands.

Paphs & Phrags....yum.

[janet_a]

Originally Posted by Brooke

You can take a peek and if you have roots, I wouldn't change anything.

Brooke

well, it has the roots it came with; i'd like to see more, but the green parts are growing (glacially slowly, but growing). i'll give it at least til june or july unless there's a crisis before then. it came in bark in what i think was a too large pot, in july or august of last year. i gave it a few months to think about things (during which time it did basically nothing) and then put in s/h, as my other phrag had done so well in it. thx for the advice!

[tizzycat]

congrats on the new plant Tom, can you post a pic.