Actually I think giganteum (if it is a valid name, which I'm not so sure
it is) is in the caudatum/wallisii/lindenii kind of group. But I could
be wrong. That group prefers to be a bit on the dry side. At least dry
for phrags.

The 'dry phrags' do well in semihydro (see Ray's site for more
information). Failing that, in a more 'traditional' potting mix I treat
them like paphs, watering as they approach dryness, rather than keeping
them very wet. The classic phrag trick of leaving the plants sit in a
saucer of water is not appropriate for these plants (at least in my
hands). They will tolerate it, and grow a bit, but they never grow as
well and are prone to rot if kept too wet.

Leave that stake in as long as you can, if it is wobbling too much it
won't root well. Once it is well rooted, it will stand on its own.
Hopefully you have given it a pot that fits its roots. Overpotting is a
really bad idea. If it has few roots, use a tiny pot, and repot it into
a bigger pot in 6 months or so when it has grown some nice new roots.

Rob

Ray wrote:
Rachel,

As there was no image attached (Don't do so here, this is a non-binaries
newsgroup), we cannot answer the "does it look OK, but phrags are used to
being constantly wet, so unless your potting medium is way too dense to
allow air flow to the roots, it's almost impossible to overwater them.

My guess is that you've done what you can, and as the plant grows new roots
to stabilize itself in the new pot, it will be fine, even without the stake.



--
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2a) See rule 1
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