Phragmipedium kovachii

I’m pleased to announce that we are the first American nursery to be actively propagating and hybridizing this great new species from Peru.  This has been a project that we’ve been working on since May of 2003, when Alfredo Manrique, owner of Centro de Jardineria Manrique, Lima, Peru, was granted the first permit to collect the five plants that we are presently working with.  Since that time, three companies have formed an exclusive partnership for the US, European and Asian markets to make this all happen, one from Peru and the other two from the United States.

Centro de Jardineria Manrique – owner, Alfredo Manrique

Piping Rock Orchids – owner, Glen Decker

Tropical Propagations – owner, Fritz Schomburg

This was not an easy task ... After countless meetings between Alfredo and INRENA, and many inspections of the laboratory and nursery in Lima, Peru, and several trips to Peru for Fritz and me, it has finally happened.  Last month, we came back from Peru with 24 mother flasks … 10 flasks of kovachii sibs and selfings and 14 flasks of different kovachii hybrids.  Naturally, they come to America with all the proper documents as well as all their proper inspections by INRENA, US Fish and Wildlife, and the USDA making them all legal and ready to sell.  All of our work has been documented with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife office through Roddy Gabel, in which there are copies of our paper work on file.  

Just to give you a little bit more information on the work we are doing … After the arrival of the 24 “mother” flasks, Fritz began the task of replating the seedlings at his lab, Tropical Propagations in Madison, Wisconsin.  Many of these mother flasks contain thousands of plants; thus, we expect to have an excellent supply of most of these crosses.  Exactly what will be for sale this year … Well, that’s hard to say.  Based on how long the seedlings have been in the mother flasks, it is apparent that the species is growing slower than the hybrids.  With that said, we expect to have some of the larger seedlings of kovachii ready for sale in late summer when we expect to have the first wave of seedlings of the crosses available as well.  Our plan is to grow the first group of plants to come out of flask for a few months to be sure they are well established.  These will be sold as individual seedlings.  Around the same time, the smaller replated flasks should be ready to sell and we will probably begin sales of flasks at that time.

Based on germination and growth rates, we expect the following crosses to be our first hybrids for sale:

Phragmipedium kovachii x Saint Ouen   (Saint Ouen = Hanne Popow x besseae)

Phragmipedium kovachii x Living Fire   (Living Fire = Sorcerer’s Apprentice x besseae)

Phragmipedium kovachii x Walter Schomburg   (Walter Schomburg = Eric Young x Andean Fire)

Phragmipedium kovachii x Cape Sunset   (Cape Sunset = Eric Young x schlimii)

Now, probably the biggest question everyone will want to know is, how much will they cost?  Since the quantity of plants is substantial, and there is no middleman involved, we expect all of the plants to be offered at very reasonable prices.  Will they be hundreds of dollars?  Perhaps for the flasks, but not for the seedlings!

Finally, the genetic material used here are the plants collected by Alfredo Manrique, over 2-1/2 years ago.  Please feel free to browse through the photo gallery, showing the many clones that we are presently working with, as well as a few photos that you may find interesting, including one of the many flasks currently in the lab in Lima.  Our work will not stop here; keep posted to the web site and stay tuned for the actual selling date and prices, as well as further information on seedlings, flasks, and new hybrid developments. 

Thank you,

Glen

Fritz

Alfredo