Phragmipedium besseae

[smartie2000]

I own two phrag besseae, and this is my newest one. The spike seems to develop faster on this one so it might hold two blooms longer than my other besseae. An orchid collection is not complete without one Thanks for looking

[Ron-NY]

very nice Fren! I don't grow besseae well...nice job!

[eaglssong]

Stunning. Great photo too!!

[JoeW]

Oh, I like the photography too! HA, Anne and I were neck and neck on that one.

[Orchidzrule]

OK, so Fren says my orchid collection is not complete????? Those are almost fighting words! LOL

I certainly acknowledge the discovery (as recently as 1981, believe it or not!) of Phragmipedium besseae absolutely revolutionized phrag-growing. My one complaint about besseae is its climbing habit. How does one cope with it in a pot?

It's beautiful, Fren, just like all your Phrags. I definitely think of you as the Phrag-Man of this forum!

Cheers,
Rob

[playtime8978]

This is beautiful, I considered getting one but it was too expensive now I regret the financial constraints. for now I will enjoy your beautiful specimen and your great photography, thank you so much for the photos

[smartie2000]

(I must convince Rob to get a phrag)
This one isn't climbing too much, yet. The first two growths are close together with no stolons, but the third blooming growth has a longer stolon. This one I potted in a wider pot so the growth is just a distance away. Hopefully the new growth coming is not going to get stolonous. So far my besseae are not out of control but they aren't huge plants yet.

Some of my other phrags, I just pot deeper the next repotting. The old growth will wilt eventually.

I think when plants get large then it gets complicated Then planting deeper is not possible because of complicated multiple growths, I would wrap sphag around the growth, let it grow new roots and divide it off. Or I've seen some people cut a small bottomless cup around the climbing growth and packed with sphag.

There are besseae hybrids that are just as good as the species, possibly with less stolons. Although there are exceptions. Phrag Waunakee Sunset has stolons, I would avoid this cross if you were avoiding stolons. My plant and another one I've seen at a show are stolonous.

[kfir from israel]

nice!

[Redhead59]

That's a beauty !

[zainal abidin]

The color so striking very beautiful, good job.