Phrag. besseae

[silence882]

Continuing my tradition of having plants bloom at odd times of the year, here's my besseae:

--Stephen

 

[PHRAG]

:drool:

That is drool inducing. Do you have the parent info?

 

[Marco]

:drool: sweet phrag!

 

[Heather]

Oh, beautiful! Always beautiful. Have I mentioned how much I really do like besseae? :smitten:

 

[SlipperFan]

She is very lovely!

 

[silence882]

Thanks, guys!

This cross is '#4' x '#7' from Antec. I've been attempting to get a better picture, but can't get it quite right.

--Stephen

 

[SlipperFan]

...I've been attempting to get a better picture, but can't get it quite right.

The flower looks pretty good, but the background is distracting. Maybe that's why you are not satisfied?

 

[silence882]

The texture didn't look quite right on the first pic. I have finally gotten another, better photo:

--Stephen

 

[Heather]

that's better!!

 

[PHRAG]

Maybe the Antec folks will pop in here and tell us more about #4 and #7. More specifically, were they wild collected or seed grown?

Is this besseae growing on stolons or growing in a clump?

 

[SlipperFan]

Yes, very nice, Stephen!

 

[silence882]

This plant only has two growths and they're clumped. I think stolonous growth is more common in plants in the wild than it is in plants in cultivation.

And of course, the besseae bloom fell off about a day before the dalessandroi second bloom would have been fully open, so no together picture for now. However, I got bored and dissected the besseae bloom. Here are a few shots:

I posted more shots on the besseae page:
http://www.slipperorchids.info/phragdatasheets/besseae/index.html

--Stephen

 

[Shadow]

It was much better as a whole flower. Now it reminds me seafood.

 

[Heather]

Or a chicken? (on the left.)

 

[DavidM]

Very nice

 

[NYEric]

If I had the 2 bloom that close together I would have crossed them to make a Phrag. Jersey. The only place that I've seen selling Delassendroi hybrids is Piping Rock and EYOF, and we all know how hard it is to get EYOF plants, (I think they out-OZ OZ). E.

 

[lindafrog]

Wow, what a cover girl beautiful phrag besseae, congradulations on your growing skill. Any advice you'd care to share? What type of water are you using?

 

[silence882]

I've been thinking of using the besseae pollen on the 3rd dalessandroi bloom to make Phrag. Jersey. I don't know if I actually want the seedlings, though.

I use untreated well-water. It has a ppm of ~180 and a pH of ~6.4. I add fertilizer at about 1/4 strength about a third of the time. The besseaes are in diatomite now, although i think i'll switch to medium CHC / charcoal / diatomite once the two are done blooming.

--Stephen

 

[Kyle]

I don't see much use in makng Phrag Jersey. In my opinion it only causes confusion between the pure dalessandroi species. I think it would much better to self the dalessandroi and preserve the species rather then muddle the genes.

Its like crossing caudatum with wallisii. Whats the point?

Kyle

 

[kentuckiense]

I don't see much use in makng Phrag Jersey. In my opinion it only causes confusion between the pure dalessandroi species. I think it would much better to self the dalessandroi and preserve the species rather then muddle the genes.

Its like crossing caudatum with wallisii. Whats the point?

Kyle

I agree with Kyle.