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Phragmipedium besseae

Discussion in 'Orchid Species' started by orchidkarma, Aug 28, 2010.

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  1. Aug 28, 2010 #1
    orchidkarma

    orchidkarma Member

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    A fairly small warm growing litophyte/terrestrial species from Colombia, Ecuador and Peru where it grows in wet mountain forests at 1000-1500 meters. I grow mine quite bright, almost Cattleya light in my intermediate growing window, semi-hydro culture volcanic rocks. I was hoping the first flower would last until the second opened, but it did not make it.

    afarm5.static.flickr.com_4140_4935089516_b25e69b788_b.jpg
    afarm5.static.flickr.com_4082_4934455625_ea5c302713_b.jpg
     
  2. Aug 28, 2010 #2
    KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Karma, very nice bloom and color. Also, I love the view from your balcony.
     
  3. Aug 28, 2010 #3
    Horus

    Horus Active Member

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    Karma you have one AWESOME besseae she even looks like on fire and you can even see all the little hairs!!! and the view you have is spectacular.
     
  4. Aug 28, 2010 #4
    EGOISTA

    EGOISTA Member

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    I agree with Kelly, beutiful plant and view!

    How long do you grow your Phragmipedium with this methods ? Do you use distillate water? Do you let it dry sometimes? Have you never had salt storage problems?

    I grow my Phragmipediums in a mix with bark, a little bit of sphagnum, perlite and quarz gravel, I keep the pots submerged for few cm in osmotic water, I oftend repot them.
     
  5. Aug 28, 2010 #5
    orchidkarma

    orchidkarma Member

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    Thanks a lot!! :) I just love this species. The view is actually from the deck of our summer place... and yes it is very nice. We have moved back to the city again now (summer is gone in Sweden, colder weather is already coming now), but I always bring some orchids with me out when we stay there in the summer.

    Egoista: I do not have a lot of Phrags, but I grow them all this way. I have not had any problem with salt buildup, but I use exclusively RO (Reverse Osmosis) water, and I also make sure to flush out the pots regularly. I like volcanic rocks since they do not break down in the constant moisture.
     
  6. Aug 28, 2010 #6
    EGOISTA

    EGOISTA Member

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    Thank you for your reply, I have got other species but with bessae and bessae hybrids I find good low and wide pots becouse this species grows a lot on surface..
    a friend of mine grows it on plastic basket in Ro water, he makes this for limit the hight temperature :D but I'm sure that you don't have the same problem! :)

    In my opinion Phgr.bessae , besides being beautiful is the most suitable for growing home.
    You're good and you'll surely as much satisfaction from other species of Phragmipedium, try bessae flava is really beautiful!
     
  7. Aug 29, 2010 #7
    orchidkarma

    orchidkarma Member

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    Thanks again. :) I would not mind growing a few more Phrags actually, I have some room in the window now. Yes, the flava form of besseae is beautiful too, I have been keeping an eye out for Phrag. sedenii and a Green Hornet for a while, perhaps I'll find some at the Gothenburg show in another month.