Hi... I've just ordered my 1st phrag. Phrag. warscewiczianum 'Orchidview' FCC/AOS x self. I know this is compact. I've been wanting to get a large flowered red Phrag. for a long time though. They don't seem too difficult from what I've heard and I was about to order Phrag. (Eric Young 'Rocket Fire' x Mem. Dick Clements 'Rocket Flash') 4N, but my main concern is that from what I have seen, longifolium and sargentianum in the ancestry can make these types of phrags get monstrously large. I'm 6'2" and I've seen an awarded Sorcerer's Apprentice almost as tall as me and an absolutely mammoth longifolium that spilled out all over the place. Can anyone suggest me a large flowered red hybrid that can grow comfortably under fluorescent lighting?

You might try to find one of my favorites...Scarlet O'Hara(Jason Fischer x besseae) they are a bit more compact than Jason Fischer, but have some of the nicest flowers I have ever seen on a besseae hybrid.

Some clones of Jason Fischer aren't too monstrous and many clones of Mem. Dick Clements are quite compact. Happy hunting.

Jon

Phrag Living Fire is a nice size. Not too big, not too small. Nice red flowers with petals thast twist. Nice plant.

I definiteley think Jason Fischers are a decent choice. What about Don Wimber? Do they get real huge?

I definiteley think Jason Fischers are a decent choice. What about Don Wimber? Do they get real huge?

They can... Although I think that if you aren't growing in a greenhouse, they won't get all that big. I think they expand to fit their environment... Growing under lights or in the windowsill gives you an upper limit on pot size, for example. Most people will divide a plant before moving it past an 8 or 10" pot. If you have a lot of space, you might use a bigger pot. Like a half barrel or a garbage can (I've seen it).

Root limiting (and fan limiting) phrags probably isn't a bad option for the space deprived. By that I mean keeping things in smaller pots. As long as you keep two or three growths on a phrag, it will probably bloom pretty well. Maybe not as nice as the specimen in the laundry tub, but well enough. No, it isn't ideal. But sometimes we have to make sacrifices for our art.

Why not just get a good besseae? Mine is a brilliant vermilion red, and while small, it beats absolutely any besseae hybrid...including Jason Fischer and Don Wimber. Its smaller than either cross, much smaller than most phrag hybrids, and takes less light....and its just as easy to grow. Take care, Eric

besseae is nice and compact but some have trouble with it.

mem. dick clements, andean fire, rosalie dixler, they all look the same and are a nice brick red (make sure NOT to buy the ones made with yellow besseae, unless you want washed out reds), and are usually surprisingly compact.

don wimber can get large, although not as much as longifolium et al.

jason fischer and some of its backcrosses onto besseae are also very compact. many of those surpass your average besseae in color, form, and size, not to mention ease of growth.