Psychopsis Mendenhall

[POLKA]

Howdy All

I have had this for a couple of seasons, now. It was purchased in bloom, and it aborted a couple, and then bloomed two or three more for me, and then the stem turned brown. In the meantime, I got two new growths that have matured.

So, when do the new spikes come? Northern Hemisphere blooming time of new spikes will be .... ??

Thanks for your time and trouble.

Rex

[IncurablePlantHead]

I have new spikes about 4 inches on both of 2 different psychopsis' right now in South Florida.

[jeremyinsf]

What makes you sat the new growths are "mature"?

My answer to your question is - they spike when they are mature. There isn't a season, per se, as I understand it.

What temperatures is the plant getting? And how much light? Temps make a big difference to these plants. They like to be warm.

[Leafmite]

I hope it blooms soon!

[POLKA]

Thanks for the replies
They grew full sized leaves and bulbs, but they just haven't spiked yet.

They are grown bright with my cattleyas (in a greenhouse), about 58 nights and 80 days for the past few months. So, if the 58 at night has been a bit low, I should expect spikes as the night temps naturally rise, eh?

Rex

[weederwoman]

I'm thinking of putting a seedling heating mat on a timer for the evenings under my pot. Even in summer our night temps get in the 50's. My psychopsis is half krameriana and they like to be in the 70's at night.

Laurel

[jeremyinsf]

Yeah, I have a one under my Mendenhall's too.

My Kalihi alba 'Green Valley's don't seem to need as much heat, but that's just my experience. Mine seem to flower really freely, and initiate spikes pretty easily too.

[weederwoman]

Kalihi alba 'green valley" is the one I just got at my society meeting, in spike. Good to know it is a bit user friendly.

Laurel

[jeremyinsf]

Originally Posted by weederwoman

Kalihi alba 'green valley" is the one I just got at my society meeting, in spike. Good to know it is a bit user friendly.

Laurel

I have several of them and they grow like weeds. New growth, new spikes, spikes easily bifurcate, and flowers well - sometimes dual flowers.

I had given a friend a Mendenhall and she loved it but complained it didn't flower enough for her (whaaaa!) so I gave her one of the Kalihi too. That did the trick!

I highly suggest seaweed use with psychopsis. They can have finicky roots and the seaweed can help work magic. I think it's in part why mine perform so well.

[IncurablePlantHead]

Originally Posted by jeremyinsf

Yeah, I have a one under my Mendenhall's too.

My Kalihi alba 'Green Valley's don't seem to need as much heat, but that's just my experience. Mine seem to flower really freely, and initiate spikes pretty easily too.

We had nights in the lower 40's during the winter and my kalihi alba put out one bloom after the other all winter long and now this Spring has produced another great looking spike even while the other one just bloomed again. Looks like another leaf is starting to form as well. Mariposa, the flower being of considerably more mass is slower to rebloom but appears to be at the point of opeaning a new bloom and is also putting out a new spike of considerable girth. So I would agree that at least the occasional cool blast doesn't seem to hold them down much.