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Best Care Of A Psychopsis...Opinions?
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Posted by aveo5 10 (My Page) on Sat, Jan 21, 12 at 16:34
I just got yet another Psychopsis yesterday, locally grown in south Fla. The leaves have the mottling on it,not plain green. Dont know the exact cross. Only called 'Psychopsis' Maripossa'. Ok..I HAD a huge one for like 15 years, was great and bloomed constantly,it was a huge specimen,then it died nearly overnight 5 years ago.
I have replaced it every year since then with a new one,a younger one, from the Ft.Laud. Orchid show each Jan. They all died within 6 months of purchase. i dont know why.
This one is in spike, 1 bloom opening now, it has 6 psedudo- bulbs,in a 4in pot. It is in bark and some sphagnum moss. Now...how do I get this one to live!! I am going broke replacing it every year. And then I dont get a bigger plant, and only a few bloom for a few months. I lost the knack' of growing one. So...do I unpot it and put it in a basket? Tie it to a slab of wood/cork? Wait till it is bursting out of the pot?
What about watering,feeding,and light? I bought this one because it is grown locally, it looks like it has had good high light, the bloom is nice and fat ,and it is opening with a nice big lip...just what I wanted. The others came from Hawaii,and Taiwan,and looked like picture perfect specimens. I think that is why they died. hey had to be grown in a green house under perfect conditions.
This one looks like my old one, like it was hung in a tree outside and it is use to south Fla. weather. Not perfect green house conditions, and perfect temps. etc.
So...any feedback to keep it alive and growing and blooming would be great. I SO want it to live.
**** I got a pretty new deep pink Epi., 'Epi.Candy Valley' that came from Taiwan, and a 'Blc. Digbyana' to!. I now have 3 Digbyanas, close to blooming sizes. This one is in total sphagnum, I have to replant it very soon I think. That will rot it...right? And get them outside. But they are so 'perfect' it is obvious they came from greenhouses,not use to 'real light' and 'real life' outside. The Epi. is in spike, a week or so from blooming, I know I have to get it and the Digbyana use to outside life ASAP. So...how do I keep THIS Psychopsis alive and kicking?
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RE: Best Care Of A Psychopsis...Opinions?
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| The probable reason why you are losing so many plants is overwatering. This is definitely an orchid that likes to dry out between waterings. It also likes very bright light and will enjoy some direct sun morning/evening as well year round warmth. I would not keep it in sphagnum. It is much too water retentive. I would get it out now, even though it is in spike. -Ian. |
RE: Best Care Of A Psychopsis...Opinions?
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I agree with the above about overwatering. I was especially warned about winter watering, as they like to rot if kept even slightly moist. I grow them in the dendrobium way, i.e., way underpotted. If the plant doesn't like tight shoes, it can crawl out.
IMO, sphagnum = satan. In my zone it turns to a toxic, slimy fungus-sickle in 6 months or so. I use it for absolutely nothing, and remove it whenever found. And shoot it.
Good luck - Nancy |
RE: Best Care Of A Psychopsis...Opinions?
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The 'Digbyana' is in pure sphagnum,...I am repotting it this week. The Psychopsis is in bark and fir and a tiny bit of spag., and it has been in it a few years, I can tell from the 'quality' of the medium. I try to keep them dry, ...that is why my 'old' one was so happy hanging from my plumeria tree for over 10 years, I never repotted it, barely watered it, ignored it, and it was in bloom all year, grew with no issues, then one day it just died within a week.
So it was outside,under the plumeria tree, got watered when i remembered, fed when i thought of it. So it got dappled sun all day in the spring-fall, then full sun in winter, when the tree defoliated, it is perfect for growing my Rhy. and my Digbyanas. I will leave it in its pot, it can put out 2 more growths before it hits the rim, or should I pot it into a basket or net pot???
It is in a plastic pot, small, but it has been in it for a long time, should I go for a small basket? With new bark/fir/or what kind of mix? Or leave it in the pot, and hang it from my tree....maybe in a basket, but in the plastic pot, I can hang a basket with an orchid hanger, the plastic pot wont hold up, it might crack and fall to the ground. So...should I unpot and put it in a basket,a SMALL one, or leave it as is, and hang it outside now, and get it ready for spring and our ungodly hot summers? |
RE: Best Care Of A Psychopsis...Opinions?
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| Having grown them sucessfully for a while, I would suggest growing the plant in a clay pot with large bark. I moved mine down to Florida 4 months ago and can tell you my observations. In NY I grew them in an east window and treated them like Phals. I grew them in clay with bark and some sphag. In Florida, I brought only one plant and put it on a south patio but the plant was completely shaded by a roof over-hang. It seemed bothered by the heat in September and I moved it indoors. I repoted into the same clay pot with large bark, no sphag. It stayed inside until November when I put it back out on the patio. It gave me 3 blooms and is making new growths. I brought it back inside as the night temps were getting too low 40's. They are prone to rot if the temps get too low and the humidity is high, which is what happens here on the Gulf Coast. I have had it happen in NY when my house temps got too cool and the media was damp. I don't know what killed your plant, but what were the temps like? If you grow in a pot you have more control and can move the plant inside if the temps get too hot or cold. Having only recently moved to Florida, I am learning as I go. It is a totally different growing environment and there is a lot for me to learn. I am hanging some dendrobiums in trees, but will keep them in pots so I can bring them in on cold nights. You are probably warmer than where I am (Sarasota) and your environment different. Have you thought about joing a local Orchid Society to meed people in your area to see how they are growing their orchids? Really could be the best place to get the information on specific plants. Good luck,
Jane |
RE: Best Care Of A Psychopsis...Opinions?
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| I'm glad to see that a few of you answered this person's inquiry about her orchid. Wish I could get some input on my Miltassia "Pelican Lake" question (top of the list). |
RE: Best Care Of A Psychopsis...Opinions?
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- Posted by bgian New York (My Page) on
Sat, Jan 28, 12 at 14:50
| A question about my psych- the new leaves on mine are almost a uniform green (hardly any of the mottling like the previous older leaves) does this mean it needs more light? Any tips??? |
RE: Best Care Of A Psychopsis...Opinions?
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| Increase the light and they should get mottled. Mine do. Jane |
RE: Best Care Of A Psychopsis...Opinions?
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- Posted by bgian New York (My Page) on
Tue, Jan 31, 12 at 21:36
| ok! will do...also, any extra tips on the repotting? Mine is really overgrown and I would leave it but I'm afraid maybe the mix is too old. Its been at least 2 yrs, I"m not sure how to tell if its soured or not. Should I just carefully remove it from the pot and try to replace the mix without disturbing it as much as possible? |
RE: Best Care Of A Psychopsis...Opinions?
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| I grow Psychopsis in small lava rock in clay pots on advice from local grower. They resent repot, so I just pot up - place into a larger clay pot when needed. 10 growths and in constant bloom - just wish they would all bloom at same time for once! Bright indirect light, water 1-2 times/week. |
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