Phrag Chuck Acker

[jeremyinsf]

Looked over at the window and realized this decided to pop today. I got a few of this plant recently and this is the first flower I've seen from them. It's nice - I like the salmon more than I thought I would! They are large plants however, and I probably don't want to keep them.

[tucker85]

Very nice!

[MrHappyRotter]

Nice. I hope to see it when it's fully open. Thanks for sharing.

I think the hybrids with besseae and caudatum-types are cool. I find them hard to grow in my conditions. For whatever reason, they don't bloom often and they're susceptible to rot, even though I grow them a bit drier than most of my other phrags. All my other phrags are vigorous beasts.

Congratulations are in order. Out of curiosity, what are your growing conditions? Do you grow this plant wet or do you keep it a bit more dry? What about light levels?

[jeremyinsf]

I live in San Francisco - My natural humidity and temperatures are almost always great for orchid growing, at least, the kinds I grow.

These particular plants are in the front bay windows, with natural light. They are in an Orchiata mix and sit in a saucer of water. I try to water them regularly but due to their location, they get missed more than some of my other plants. I find with Orchiata / Phrags, you can get mold if you over-do it, so this all is probably fine the way it is. I actually don't "see" these plants from where I sit in the living room, which is probably a mixed blessing. Sometimes I think orchids do best when we ignore them, rather than obsessively give them attention.

I have 13 or 14 phrags and I grow them all a bit differently. Some are under my lights, some (like these) in the window, some more wet than others. One is outside with the Masdevallia's. I do this to try different things and experiment a bit. Things mostly turn out how I would expect based on what I've read about each kind of plant.

I have a very small phrag Sorcerer's Apprentice that was a division I got from someone in Louisiana this last year. She told me it was tough to grow them where she is. After a couple months of being here with me, I have six new growths and a whole new spike with flowers on it. The plant has exploded with happiness. I do a lot to take care of my plants - feeding, attention, (ignoring), etc - but also know that where I live has a lot to do with it too.

[billc]

Looks like it's waving to me.

Bill

[phragguy]

looks like it will be a nice when fully open

[No-Pro-mwa]

I think it's a wonderful color.

[WhiteRabbit]

Nice!

[Island Girl]

Love it!!

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Really pretty Phrag!