Reposting...need advice on repotting Psychopis?

[Austinerd]

Hello All,
I have had this psychopsis for a couple of years and right now it has 3 active flower spikes. It also has a new growth that I noticed in the last couple of weeks (as seen in the low-quality photo). It also seems very pot-bound and I am thinking about repotting it. But I have some anxiety about this...from what I've read on the OB they are touchy about being repotted. Any advice? Also which media should I use? I have been thinking about placing an order with repotme.com and it says I should use the "Paph & Phrag" mix. It is hard to tell the condition of the roots, but in general it seems to be a happy plant.
Thanks in advance for any advice or comments!
Dan

[Donald]

Greetings. I to asked the same question about two weeks ago. This is the answer that was posted.
In my collection the Psychopsis plants appear to be constantly flowering from the same old yet living existing spikes and really do not mind being transplanted into new fresh medium once there is not much shock to their root system. I would carefully remove the plant from the clay pot and gently warm wash away the old sphagnum from the roots, cut away any dead old roots and replace with fresh pre-soaked sphagnum packed into the now available spaces. This does take a bit of time and patience and one of the benefits of using sphagnum moss is the ability to remove aged stale material from around roots without exerting radical damage to the plant. I hope that this is of some assistance.

The two plants that I have had been in sphagnum so I used that medium. It did not lose any blooms and presently appears to be very health. Hope this helps.

[Austinerd]

Thanks for the response, Donald....I just need to get a ne suitable pot (which kind of pot are you using?) then will proceed following those instructions. Thanks a bunch!
Dan

[Donald]

Hello again. Because they don't like "wet feet" I have always kept them in clay pots. If you can find clay pots with slashes in them all the better. If not I don't think it's any big deal. Good Luck
Donald

[Ray]

Don't like "wet feet", huh? So explain to me how folks are successful with them in semi-hydroponics?

I think the key isn't moisture level as much as air movement around the roots.

[Donald]

Weel, Ray. I know you're a pro when it comes to "hydro" growing but I have had bad luck keeping them wet. Also most all that I have read say that the plant likes to dry out. Hey! What works for one individual might not work out for someone else.

[Grandma M]

[QUOTE=Hey! What works for one individual might not work out for someone else.[/QUOTE]

I have 8 Psychopsis, 7 of which are planted in S/H. The 8th will go into S/H soon because it needs repotting. They all are doing well, growing new roots, and blooming.

I use MSU fertalizer 1/4 strength and water them, filling pot completely, about every 2 days.

As you can see by these pictures they seem to like S/H.

Marilyn




4 together -- Mendenhall FCC/AOS,
- - - - Marposa Green Valley 'Alba'



Mendenhall 'Hildos'


Mendenhall 'Sun #7'

[Bird Song Farm]

Marilyn, wow, those are great! I have one mature and two NBS that I want to move over to S/H. Is there a particular time when success in the move is more likely? Also, does the temp. of the water come into play?

Thanks,
Al
P/S
Didn't mean to highjack the thread, just seemed like the opportune time to ask Marilyn about this.

[Grandma M]

Al

I use room temperature water, with fertilizer each time, except for about once a month when I flush with clear water. I always fill the pot to the top.

I transplant any time they show new roots, which seems to be most of the time.

Good luck, Marilyn

[Donald]

Well, Well. I just might go to Ray's web site and give it a try.