Phragmipedium Fedora Brochu
 

Phragmipedium Fedora Brochu

Phragmipedium Fedora Brochu (lindleyanum x Stenophyllum)

I got this from The Orchid Trail many years ago. When I bought it, the growths were 1/3rd to 1/4th the size they are now. I purchased it because I liked that the flowers had the sargentianum/lindleyanum look, but at a fraction of the size. I was really surprised to find out that this has P. schlimii in the parentage. Schlimii hybrids tend to produce pink and white flowers. However, it's a weird genetic anomaly that when the P. schlimii genetics are diluted sufficiently enough by the "green" flowered Phrags, the flowers revert back to "greenie" form.

Even though the growths are significantly larger than the miniature sized plant I purchased, it's still a fairly compact medium sized hybrid. I like this plant because it blooms so frequently. It's almost never out of flower now that it's reached a critical mass in size. The spikes normally branch, like this one, which is an added plus. Most Phragmipediums are sequential bloomers, so they have 1 - 3 flowers open at once on a spike. However, the spikes can branch unlike the spikes of Paphiopedilum, so that allows Phrags to produce spikes with numerous flowers open at once. This plant produces a cloud of flowers with all the spikes and branches, though that phenomenon is usually limited to the fall-winter spikes.

I grow this one wet. It never dries out. I keep a bit of water in the saucer at all times. These prefer high quality, pure water. I collect rain water to help with that. I usually feed lightly with each watering, then once a month I'll flush the pot with water only to remove excess nutrients and minerals. I grow this fairly bright, though I admit the plant is shade tolerant. I grow this indoors, but I suspect it would be fine outdoors in the warm season and would probably handle hot temperatures just fine like many of its relatives.

This clone's flowers tend to have a weird dimple on the bottom of the lip. It's not consistent, but most flowers have this imperfection. Regardless, it's a valued addition to my collection and a wonderful hybrid that I highly recommend. It's been problem free the entire time I've grown it. Seems to be pest and disease resistant.

https://i.imgur.com/W8nDm4Ol.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/VHRP8Hbl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/yfHMpNnl.jpg

It's a cute thing. The plant looks very nice.

Another nice looking Phrag! Thanks for sharing so many details on this plant, and also in your other threads. It's always nice to have information growth habit and on culture, especially from someone growing these well.