Hi everyone

Dose anyone know of a good book about growing phrag's? I read a lot about them on the net but would like to have something onhand to refer to.


Thanks Dave

Hey Dave,
I wish there were! That's my biggest complaint about Lance's Paph. Manual - Where are the other slippers? Someone should really write one, shouldn't they?

In listening to Glen Decker speak last week, and having read some breeding info recently, I wonder if the reason for this is in part that between 1930 and 1976 (or close to those dates) no new hybrid Phrags were even registered. I think the current thought is that they simply weren't so much in favor until the resurgence in growing and breeding them which took place once Phrag. besseae was discovered in 1980. Now with kovachii, here we go again. I think that they are such a great group to grow, easy and rewarding. Is their culture different enough to warrent a manual of their own? I think so, but what do the publishers think? :confused:

To finish answering your question - I have found the Phrag. back issue of Orchids Digest to be the best info so far, lots of photos, lots of breeding and growing info, and a great culture article by Marilyn Ledoux and if that's not enough, there's the Jason Fischer centerfold! 8) (the plant! the plant!)

Well worth the money if you ask me.

The closest equivalent would be Slipper Orchids, by Catherine Cash....(Timber Press). it covers all the slippers, with a large section on phrags. Its a good book, but the photos sometimes leave much to be desired. Its also outdated....it was published in the early 90's. Still, it gives some good info on the parentage of the classic phrag hybrids. I agree, there should be a good book on phrags....we have plenty for paphs (of course we could always use more.................) and at least one good one for cyps....Take care, Eric

The best resource for Phrags is Rob Zuiderwijk's http://phragweb.info

Phragweb aside, the best growers resource for Phrags at this time is pretty much you guys.

I'm very pleased I found this forum.

Cheers
Stephan

The Orchid Digest published "An Annotated Checklist of the Genus Phragmipedium" in 1998. Maybe they still have some copies left. It does need updating.

Thank for the replies

I would have to agree with you Stephan that this forum is the best source right now and I will see if I can get a hold of those back issues of Orchids Digest. I have to amitt that I only been growing slippers for less then a year and orchides for only two years and the info that I fine here and other places on the web have been a great help. Not to forget the relationships that are made. I never thought I would grow paph's and phrag's when I started out because I found them to be a little freakish.:ohmy: Then something happen now I fine myself wanting to grow nothing eles :lol:

Dave, you have definitely crossed over. :lol: I have always loved Paphs and never liked Phrags in the beginning but I love them all now as much as I love my Paphs.

Oh one other thing this is the only place I can talk about phrag's seeing that no one in the local orchid club grows then :( Thay say that you can't grow phrag's in Florida Well I was always one not to tell no to can't wait to get that first bloom and bring it to the club meeting :twisted:

I don't know why you couldn't grow Phrags at least indoors in Florida. Do you have A/C? If you can grow paphs, you can grow phrags, IMHO.

I have grown Phrags outdoors in South Florida with no problem at all.

Go for it, Dave! You might also want to check orchidspecies.com and see if there are any Phrag species that come from lower elevations and grow warm. Look for them and hybrids that contain them.