Similar in many ways to other species of sandalwood, paphiopedilums, selenipediums and cypripediums Phragmipedium is a very popular genus founded in 1896 by Robert Rolfe when he was revising all species of sandalwood. Species native to tropical America are classified in the family Selenipedium or Phragmipedium. Rolfe named the genus, using the Greek word phragma (fence) to refer to the division of the ovary and the pedilon (the slipper).
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Light
Phragmipedium does well in shaded to bright light (2400 to 3000 foot-candles), similar to the glare of sunlight. You should plant in east-facing windows, where temperatures are lower early in the day when the plants are receiving the greatest amount of light. South-facing windows should only be used if shielded from the sun by fabric curtains. Several species, including Phrag. besseae, Phrag. lena and Phrag. ecuadorense will do better in more shady lighting (1000 to 1500 foot-candles), so that if a hand passes over the leaf it won’t cast a shadow.
If using artificial light to grow indoors, LED lights are the best choice for orchids. Phragmipedium prefers artificial light 11 hours in winter and 14 to 16 hours in summer.
Temperature and humidity
Phragmipedium generally does best in moderate to warm conditions, preferring daytime temperatures of 70°F to 80°F (21°C to 27°C) and nighttime temperatures of 55°F to 65°F (13°C to 18°C).
Some species will tolerate slightly warmer temperatures, including Phrag. longifolium, Phrag. sargentianum, Phrag. pear, Phrag. ecuadorense and Phrag. hirtzii. Phragmipediums won’t flower if they don’t experience a cool enough drop in temperature at night to start blooming.
Phragmipedium thrives in high humidity conditions and will benefit from 50% to 70% humidity. This can be achieved at home with the use of a humidifier or a Humidifier and Mesh Tray. Just make sure the plant doesn’t get waterlogged or the roots will rot.
Some Phragmipediums, such as Phrag. Caudatum, can tolerate humidity down to 35% in nature during the dry season, but the roots are consistently moist and the nighttime humidity is high.
Sprinklers
As a semi-terrestrial orchid, Phragmipedium likes to be kept fairly moist, with the medium being only slightly damp between waterings. In warm dry weather, they may need to be watered 2 to 3 times a week. These orchids form wilted leaves, the tips of the leaves turn yellow and quickly turn yellow throughout the oldest base leaves, when not receiving enough water. If this happens, check the root system. Overwatering can cause the roots to rot, so the plant can’t absorb the water. If your roots are healthy, you may be lacking water and should increase your watering schedule accordingly.
Phrag. boisserianum and besseae require clean water to do best. It is advisable to water a lot when the plant is about to dry out. Don’t let these plants dry out completely at the roots between waterings! If in doubt: water.
Plants that prefer drier conditions at their roots include caudatum, lindenii, wallisii, and Mexipedium xerophyticum.
You should water in the morning, as this gives the leaves time to dry and prevents bacteria from growing overnight. If possible, use water that is low in alkalinity, such as rainwater, distilled water, or reverse osmosis water. If you have a dehumidifier in your home, the water left in the tray will be great for watering the orchid.
Nutrition
You should use Green Jungle Orchid Food, which is specially formulated to provide orchids with the nutrients they are likely to encounter naturally in their wild habitat. This is a fertilizer suitable for the characteristics of orchids
If potting in bark mix, fertilize at each watering, rinsing with non-softening water once a month. This washes away the media containing salt and mineral buildup. When growing gourds in a rockwool mix, fertilize a third time year round.
Vote
Phragmipedium needs to be potted in an environment that retains a lot of moisture. At Orchids Limited we recommend growing these plants in our Modern Moisturizing Blend (containing rockwool). Our Classic Level or our Traditional Orchid Bark Blend can be used to grow the following species: Phrag. caudatum, Phrag. wallisii, Phrag. lindenii, Phrag. pear, Phrag. longifolium, Phrag. ecuadorense, Phrag. amazonicum, and Mexipedium xerophyticum.
Repot every 1 to 2 years, preferably in spring or fall when temperatures are mild. Take care to minimize disturbance to the root system, removing only dead or dying roots of the plant. Take care to pick up the old layer of manure so as not to damage the live roots. The oldest growing pot is close to the rim of the pot, allowing 1 to 2 years of growth.
