Phrag.Sorcerers Apprentice

[Dorsetman]

The best flowering for some years ; in fact I got an award for this plant in 2005, shown with three spikes, then divided it into four, sold two pieces, and grew the others on ; it took a very long time before I saw any flower ( poor culture on my part - not enough light I think)and this is the first time it has had two.
I am pleased at the way flowers are staying on, as further flowers open, but I think the individual flower quality is not yet at its best. Still;, now that it has started flowering, if I can restrain myself from dividing again - which I am now sure I can do , it will hopefully get better and better.

[Sheryl]

Beautiful!

[LuHa]

After so many years and so much patience a beautiful result. I wish that I could see how the intact plant blooms the next time.

[Keysguy]

A classic. Nice job Geoff!

[charity]

Just beautiful! I'm jealous because I have never been able to grow these guys myself

[Dorsetman]

Just beautiful! I'm jealous because I have never been able to grow these guys myself

Not on your windowsill, Charity. This is in a 8 inch pot, and I measured the height, to make sure it was going to fit in the car, and made it 44 inches high.... ( moved the front passenger seat forward as far as it would go, and then stood it on the floor behind that seat).

[meredog]

I love this plant! I had 2 that did not survive my moving from NY to FL, and learning how to grow them in the humidity of SW FL. In fact the few phrags I tried to move all suffered the same fate

But I love yours!

[Dorsetman]

I

I love this plant! I had 2 that did not survive my moving from NY to FL, and learning how to grow them in the humidity of SW FL. In fact the few phrags I tried to move all suffered the same fate

But I love yours!

Moving house is traumatic for orchids, even if you only move a few hundred yards. Is something my plants have often suffered: i have lived in five different counties - always moving south- and somtimes in more than one house in each, over almost 60 years of orchid growing. I reckon Ioften took 5 years or more to get my plants re-adapted to the changes, and often ended up with a different ser of plants, discovering that now I could grow this, but no longer could grow that....

[Keysguy]

I had 2 that did not survive my moving from NY to FL, and learning how to grow them in the humidity of SW FL

Carolyn- I actually had good luck moving my Phrag's from NH to FL. I think the biggest need is water, water, water. I keep mine on the end of bench that is adjacent to and typically downwind of my overhead misters where I grow all my hangers. They get watered at least twice a week plus are usually getting a very light misting a couple times a day. I have a friend up north that grows them hydroponically so you can't hurt them with water as long as they are in the appropriate media for the amount of water provided. They are also under 60% shadecloth.

[meredog]

Leigh - Truly, I didn't care for them very well when I first moved, and I think they were too far gone to save them when I really tried to. I had been growing them in S/H and under lights, and the move itself, and finding/buying a hose was too much stress on all of us. But I restarted my collection, and I grow orchids that I could never successfully bloom in NY, for example catts, dends, and vandas. So all good :-)