Growing Paphs and Phrags in Your Home

       Mike Badia

Mike has had a lifelong obsession with both houseplants and gardening and he was first exposed to orchids in 1982 (and like for many of us …, let’s just say “And the rest is history”).  He now grows orchids on windowsills, 48-inch tiered LED light carts and a basement grow room with most of his orchids summering outside. He grows a variety of orchids in his large collection but favor paphiopedilums, phragmapediums and cattleyas. He is an active member Massachusetts Orchid Society and currently serves the society as a Director.  Pictured is Paphiopedilum insigne ‘Harefield Hall’, grown by Mike, which took the Jim Campbell Memorial Trophy for Best Cypripedium Alliance at the 2022 New Hampshire Orchid Society Show.  It is clear that this month’s meeting will be an excellent opportunity to learn how to manage a large orchid collection without the luxury of a greenhouse and to grow award-winning paphs and phrags in your home.

As Mike is a hobby grower and not a vendor he will not have a large number of plants for sale (although he might have a few divisions of other MOS members special plants to sell with the proceeds going to MOS).  This is also a perfect opportunity for CAIOS members that may have plants they wish to sell.  We will set up a sale table in the event that anyone has plants to sell.

As always visitors are welcome, you are encouraged to bring blooming plants for the show table and we will have raffle plants available.  St. David’s has made Masks Optional.  Food is back!  Members with last names starting A-J may bring a savory dish to share and those with last names starting L-Z may bring something sweet.