Hi,

I grow mine outside in a shade house all year round.

How much shade is the right amound for Phrags? I have 70% white shade cloth which provides adequate shade for my cattleya hybrids, cymbidiums and oncidiums. I know that 70% white shade in real terms is about 50% shade.....but it allows through more usable light so I prefer it.

I have a lower shelf also which gets more shade in summer, I sometimes put Chinese Paphs on this shelf along with other plants like Masdevallia's and Odontoglossum hybrids.

So do you think this should be adequate in the hot Australian Sun? I haven't had my plants long and am new to Phrags.

Thanks

Probably the surest way is watch how the leaves respond with green color. If they turn dark green over time, gradually increase the light until they turn light green. Heat wise, feel the leaves in the hottest part of the day. If they feel too warm or hot to the touch, increase humidity and air flow.

Phrags and Paphs can take a lot more light than most people believe and those simple guides are some of the easiest tools to use. There IS one catch though. If you push the envelope, you can't make mistakes and forget about them for a few days. If you do need to neglect for a few days, increase the sun blocking just to be safe.

Just some food for thought, it's not gospel! Honest!

Hi Bolero

:welcome: to the forum. Whereabouts in Oz are we talking? I'm from just south of Brissie and have placed my paphs in a variety of locations, from damn near close to full sun down to deep shade. For days like last years over 40's I try to move them away from the oven into the drip pan (so to speak) :) Granted I've only been growing them for about 4 years now but I'm beginning to have some satisfying success.

Only just having started with Phrags recently, my understanding is that they're a bit of a "mixed bag". They like bright light, good air circulation, high humidity and lots of water - some of them. :) Others can be treated much like mottled leaf paphs and given deeper shade and less water.

There are any number of experienced growers on the forum who'll give you the drum from their experience. Mine is questionable right now.


Cheers
Stephan

I live in Geelong south of Melbourne, Victoria. I know it's not as hot generally as where you come from but in Summer our temps get to 43C (110F) and the climate is extremely dry.

I have them under 50% green shade but will be putting them on the bottom shelf in summer of a shade house under 70% white (which is actually less than 50% green from my understanding).

I guess it's hard for you guys to advise as climates vary so much from place to place and it's hard to imagine how quickly we get sunburnt here (15 minutes for me).

Hopefully there are some people familiar with the climate here and what I can do (or it might just be trial and error for me).

Thanks for your advice

Hopefully there are some people familiar with the climate here and what I can do (or it might just be trial and error for me).

Thanks for your advice

:twisted: Is there anyone familiar with the climate in and around Melbourne? Four seasons in one day? Roaring 40's country? Emydura (Dave) comes from Canberra which could be considered "close" clamtically (I suppose). But then again maybe not. Just one thing to be wary of when placing plants on lower shelves. They can be infected by plants above if they're diseased. Given that they'll probably be moister longer they're more liable to get fungal infections as well.


Cheers
Stephan

I find that there's a lot of difference of opinion about shade levels for phrags, and all i can guess is that they are quite adaptable.

I say that because mine get about cattleya light levels and thrive, but Dave Decker (Piping Rock Orchids) said that he grows at 70%-80% shade at a presentation at our OS, and there's no arguing with his success!