Intro:
Phragmipedium pearcei is native to Peru and Ecuador and can be found growing near the edges of streams at intermediate altitudes. The plants have a sedge-like grassy appearance. The flowers are 3 inches in size and are borne on spikes 10 to 12 inches in height. The flowers open one at a time and the spikes can bloom for several months. New spikes often develop as the old ones mature making this nearly a perpetual blooming plant. This plant is easy to grow and is more tolerant of heat than other Phrags. This particular batch, which was seed grown has very tight compact growths without the long rhizomes that some varieties have.
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Light:
Low to medium from 800 to 2500 foot candles. East windows or artificial light culture are ideal for this plant.
P.L. Lights systems are a great way to provide artificial light to your orchids. See our P.L. Lights page for more information on this great product we offer.
Temperature:
Intermediate with winter daytime temps from 68 to 75 and night temps of 60 –62 degrees Fahrenheit. This plant seems to tolerate the heat of summer better than other phrags. Summer temps can be warmer. If you live in the south and have a lot of heat the best thing to do is stand the plant in a saucer of water and don’t re-water till the water is gone from the saucer.
Humidity:
50% or higher is ideal.
The use of humidity trays or room humidifiers is beneficial.
We offer two products that can help increase humidity levels. The humidity tray offered in black or white, and the Mist Maker. Please click on the underlined text for more information on these products.
Water:
It is best to use rainwater, distilled or reverse osmosis water. Municipal water with a pH of 7.5 or lower can also be used. Water when the mix approaches dryness. This plant grows near edges of streams. This means they are constantly getting flooded during the wet season. Often times the plants are submerged under the fast moving water for hours at a time during heavy rains. Summer time temps require more frequent water applications for the best culture.
Overwatering can cause several problems such as root rot and infectious bacteria/fungus in the potting medium. One product we offer that can help these problems if caught at an early stage is Phyton 27 bactericide and fungicide.
Fertilizer:
Use
GrowMore 20-10-20 Ureafree for municipal or well water. Use at the rate of ½ teaspoon per gallon. If using GrowMore with rain, distilled, or reverse osmosis water, add back in 5 - 10% municipal or well water to supply the necessary calcium and magnesium. Fertilize every other watering in the summer and every third watering in the winter.
We highly recommend
Green Jungle Orchid Food, especially formulated to work with rain, distilled, reverse osmosis water or water low in alkalinity. Fertilize with Green Jungle every time you water.
Other fertilizers offered are as follows: GrowMore 6-30-30 (Cymbidium and bloom boosting formula) and GrowMore 20-6-16 (Tropical plant food with calcium and magnesium additives).
Flowering:
This plant can flower at anytime of year but generally starts it’s spikes in the lspring or early summer. The spikes produce flowers sequentialy one after the other for a period of several months. The flowers are about 3 inches in size and are colored in green, white and light tan with chocolate eeyebrows at the top of the staminode.
Repotting:
Repot in early spring or early fall after the heat of summer is past. Use a small grade bark mix or coco husks. Some growers have excellent luck with New Zealand sphagnum moss as a potting medium. These plants can be divided once the plant develops 8 or more growths. We have found it best to wait and let the plant become a real specimen. We have some plants in our nursery with over 100 growths in large bowls filled with the grass like leaves. The flowering is fantastic.
We offer several different types of potting medium. Here are direct links to what we believe to be some of the best potting mediums available for orchids: Orchids Limited bark mix, New Zealand sphagnum moss, coco husk, coco peat, sponge rock,charcoal, tree fern fiber, osmunda fiber and cork slabs for epiphytic plants.
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