tomkalina
Vendor
One of three original clones from Dennis D'alessandro back in the day. Another good example of tray culture for this species.
Phrag. d'alessandroi 'DD #2'
- Thread starter tomkalina
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monocotman
Well-Known Member
Tom
lovely. I suspect that lots of other phrags and paphs would show equal lelevs of improved growth with trays. It’s just a matter of space!
David
lovely. I suspect that lots of other phrags and paphs would show equal lelevs of improved growth with trays. It’s just a matter of space!
David
WOW Tom, that bloom looks like it's on fire. What a color!
NYEric
Well-Known Member
Yay besseae (v. dalessandroi)! 
How deep are the trays? I wonder where Dennis is, probably laughing at us living here in a 3rd World country!
How deep are the trays? I wonder where Dennis is, probably laughing at us living here in a 3rd World country!
tomkalina
Vendor
Standard 10 x 20 x 2 1/2 inches deep propagation trays with slotted bottoms for drainage. (See photo). I think most garden centers carry them, especially in the spring, or eBay. Haven't heard from Dennis in a long time; I assume he's still down in Ecuador?Yay besseae (v. dalessandroi)!
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NYEric
Well-Known Member
I'm sure he is, he tried to talk me into moving there. I hope I live long enough to visit or see retirement!
tomkalina
Vendor
Not sure how you'd get there with COVID restrictions, but I'd advise going as soon as it's possible; the hikes aren't too strenuous for anyone in decent shape. The first trip I took about ten years ago was guided by Ecuagenera and it was excellent, especially since I was interested in seeing Phrag. besseae in it's natural habitat and analysing leachate and substrate samples.
Eric, Denis has given up orchids and now owns a coffee shop in Vilcabamba, Ecuador where he lives with his family. BTW the plant in the photos does not exhibit the correct characteristic of true v. dalessandroi. Given its size, it should.Yay besseae (v. dalessandroi)!
Wide, shallow clay pots can achieve the same results. All besseae need space.
Best regards,
cnycharles
Peloric keiki
Which characteristics are missing? It looks like it’s branching
tomkalina
Vendor
Here's an updated photo of the 'DD #2' clone in full bloom and branching; taken this morning, in a sunny greenhouse.
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tomkalina
Vendor
It’s the best if you have the room. Got the idea when I saw how Ecuagenera was growing them in Ecuador.
OK, although there are two (2) spikes on the plant but this is the real thing. Sometimes besseae can put out a single branch but not like the plant in the photo. V. d'alessandroi cannot be differentiated by any other means. Those colors, petal characteristics, etc., can be found in every large population, whether primary or secondary.
I have seen single growth plants throw out two (2) and three (3) branches. If you have a real v. d'allessandroi it should become obvious by the second flowering season.
Space is a must for all besseae to reach this size. As in the photos trays work and so do large clay orchid pots, the shallow ones. Keep the air moving across the roots.
Best,
tomkalina
Vendor
This clone has been growing in that tray for about 2 years. It's much larger and more floriferous than when we grew it in a 6" pot. I should repot it in the spring but I'm running out of room to be growing too many of them in trays.
Do you think most would phrags benefit from this shallow tray culture, or just the ones that walk out of the pot? Trying to decide who get the tray and space.. kovachii... Has anyone tried this in a tray?
tomkalina
Vendor
Haven't tried any other Phrags besides besseae and d'alessandroi using tray culture, but I can't see why it wouldn't work. The only problem is the space required to do it.
Some growers, myself included, have had a lot of success using modified hydroponic pots for kovackii. I go into much detail in the year end issue of the Orchid Digest. There bigger species, kovachii, boisserianum, longiflium, caudatum, etc., won't culture well in a tray. Schlimii might although I've never seen it in a tray. Those species that live below the high water line along the banks of rivers need deeper pots. Forget trays for those species.
Best,
