Fragmipedium

Fragmipedium: description of the orchid and characteristics

Fragmipedium: photo of an orchid

Phragmipedium (Phragmipedium) is a plant native to Mexico and the southern territory of the American continent belongs to the orchid family and at the moment there are about 20 known species. These are large-sized orchids, green all year round, which can be epiphytes and lithophytes with missing pseudobulbs. Green leaves grow 60 centimeters long. They have a linear shape and bend beautifully to form an arc. The flowering shoots are long and completely naked. At their tops, flowers of amazing beauty are formed with large bag-shaped lips with sepals beautifully hanging from them, like winding ribbons. Fragmipedium petals can be colored pink, red, white, yellow, greenish, lilac or orange. The opening of the flowers takes place one by one or they do it together, it all depends on which variety was chosen.

The maximum height of the Fragmipedium is 80 centimeters.

Fragmipedium: care and cultivation features

Fragmipedium is not tolerant of the summer heat, it feels good when the thermometer does not drop below +12 at night and does not exceed +25 degrees during the day.

How to light:

In the spring and summer periods, the plant must be shaded, protecting it from the sun during the day. With the onset of autumn and until the end of winter, they should be indoors with good lighting. Artificial lighting is also quite suitable for a plant.

Soil requirements:

The soil is needed with a low or neutral level of acidity. In order to make a suitable soil on your own, you need to mix pine bark, sphagnum, coconut fiber in equal amounts and add a small amount of charcoal there.

Fertilization:

As soon as the waking period begins, you can begin to make fertilizing at intervals of 14 days. No fertilization is required during the autumn-winter period.

Usage:

Hanging baskets are simply meant for the phragmipedium to grow in, but provide enough space.

When it blooms:

The Fragmipedium orchid blooms up to six months starting in spring.

Humidity level:

The humidity level should be between 50% and 70% and constantly ventilate the room where the plant is grown. It is very important that the air is constantly circulated.

To create the desired level of humidity for the Fragmipedium, you need to put small wet stones on a pallet under the pot or use devices to humidify the air. Sphagnum moss, when wet, can also help in solving this problem, it is enough to wrap a container with a plant with it. Spraying using soft warm water will also help, the main thing is to cover the flowers and buds so that moisture does not get on them. This can be done only in the morning, so that by the evening there will be no moisture left.

Watering rules:

Due to the lack of pseudobulbs, the Fragmipedium orchid is not able to accumulate moisture, so watering should be carried out regularly. During the fall-winter period, they should be carried out less frequently.

Fragmipedium: photo of an orchid

When to transplant:

The transplant of the Fragmipedium should be carried out every year with the arrival of spring, when new growth begins. During flowering, a transplant cannot be carried out, if there is no way to wait until spring, then you can do this when the plant has faded.

How to propagate:

The Fragmipedium orchid reproduces by dividing the rhizome.

Possible troubles

A nuisance for the Fragmipedium orchid can be an invasion of spider mites.