Ok, I am hearing more and more different mediums to pot phrags in! I need to know what to avoid, what is OK, and What is the best thing to pot my phrags in. Here are the things I have heard of: S/H, Grodan, Rockwool, Fir Bark, CHC, Coconut husk Fiber, Bark Mix, spaghnum, and more! :help: ME!

And, should I be sitting mine in water, and changing the water every few days??

Tough call Nick, it is what works for you and also what region, humidity, and lighting you get.
I grow my phrags most of my phrags in fine/medium fir bark, lava rock, charcoal, and a small amount of perlite. I do leave them in saucers with water, when the water evaporates it is time to water again.:cool:

John

Tough call Nick, it is what works for you and also what region, humidity, and lighting you get.
I grow my phrags most of my phrags in fine/medium fir bark, lava rock, charcoal, and a small amount of perlite. I do leave them in saucers with water, when the water evaporates it is time to water again.:cool:

John

I have mine in a fine bark, now. I just started to put water in my phrag trays, and I think my besseae turned a little bit greener! Hooray! My besseae usually looks like living death! LOL! I think it may be on the road to recovery. I think it got that way because I never repotted it in 2 years because then I didn't know much about slippers!

Nick, I agree with what John said. Try and experiment and see what works for you, only you can find out which medium is best for you. I have always used bark mix and that works great for me (actually my plants :D).

Do you set yours in trays of water???

... and ocassionally in June (hot months) when I am too lazy to water all the time. That said, I should do it more often, because it always seems to be good for them - and I mean all of them - paphs, phrags, phals, masd, intergenerics, etc

But if the water sits too long it get scungy, and it could get bugs and funguses and stuff. so best not to overdo it, eh?

Min

Yeah, better not overdo it! I just have been changing it every day.

Tough call Nick, it is what works for you and also what region, humidity, and lighting you get.
I grow my phrags most of my phrags in fine/medium fir bark, lava rock, charcoal, and a small amount of perlite. I do leave them in saucers with water, when the water evaporates it is time to water again.:cool:

John

:iagree: I use Grodan and coconut chip and large perlite. They also sit in water. Try what suit your conditions best. Just experiment on one or two plants first.

Ramon:D

I have some in bark, some in sphag(but it must stay loose) and some in coconut, and they seem like it all the same. All sitting in water except for the Phrag wallisii. I think phrags grow in anything so there isn't anything to stress about the growing media...
...seems that temperature and air movement is more important in keeping them alive. It's way to hot right now

The first thing that would help is knowing the natural conditions it grows in. If a phrag is found growing in trees does it make sense to have it sit in water? Seeing that bess. is referred to as a swamp phrag, they generally like getting their feet wet, so probably most of it's hybrids would too. Clean fresh water is important, as well as good air movement. Most commercial growers don't have them sitting in water because it's too much upkeep. It would also be easier to flush the pots if they're not sitting in trays. One has to do what works for them. I use a bark mix - fine for small seedlings & for all others 2 parts coarse to 1 part fine. I then add 1 part perlite & 1 part charcoal. I have also found it's best to stay with one type of mix for all your plants, as you get the watering schedule right.

I have also found it's best to stay with one type of mix for all your plants, as you get the watering schedule right.

That's what I have done now. I just usually water every day, because they seem to dry out very fast!

Some people would find that inconvenient but whatever works for you!

I have gone to all Lava Rock, (Dyna Rock II, or I for get the name of it right now). I put one dividion of a phrag in it with no roots and in a month the poot was full of new roots so I have gone to it for all my phrags and paphs. I tryed a mix with Coco Nut chips but didn't like that. You do have to match the size of the plant with the size of the chunks of rock though. I took a medium size bag and sifted it though two diffrent size hardware cloth to further seperate the sizes.
I also have them siting in water. They are outside for the summer now and seam to be loveing it.
I lost roots on most of mine trying to set them in water while in the bark mixes. One thing to rember when repoting to go to setting in water to make sure the old roots are above the water line or they will rot.
Dawn

I have heard that some phrags love moisture (sitting in water) and some hate it at all. Which group of hybrids and species love it and hate it?

bessea is known as a 'swamp orchid', so most bess hybrids do well sitting in shallow water. The 'tree dwellers' would not, make sense? The X of the two you get to guess & see what they like!

My bessie is in water.

I water my Grande that I got from Pete almost everyday...Pete said the Caudatum parent however hates to stay wet.