Psychopsis in Springtime

[jrodpad]

So I've been coveting a psychopsis for quite some time, but haven't been able to find one in decent shape and flowering size... until about four months ago when I found a great looking psychopsis that was calling my name. It did not have a flower, but had a very promising 3+ foot spike.

I resisted the urge to repot, even though the existing medium looked crusty an in need of a change. I've been checking in every few days for the last four months and the spike has always been flat and empty.

UNTIL NOW!!!! Can you see the bud starting in the picture? It's just peeking out from the sheath in the pic below but I just checked in this morning and it's twice this size.

Can't wait - anyone have a sense of how long it takes from bud to flower? Or how long I can expect the flower to endure under normal conditions?

Thanks!

- J

[trdyl]

Congratulations!

Unfortnately, I can not answer any of your questions.

[jeffg]

These are one of my favorites. I have 2 and am getting an alba tomorrow at C&H.
My experience judging from where your bud is to bloom would be approx a week or two. They have this methodical unwrapping that is quite a show. Mine have been in bloom for over a year now, though I did notice that they will take a bloom break during their cycles. The flowers last about 2-3 weeks for me. I have heard that they "resent" repotting, so I would hold off on that. Mine look crusty as well, but they seem happy enough. In fact, one is sending a new, third spike now!
Enjoy.

[Keltera]

I was able to 'gently' repot mine, i made sure not to break any roots as i pulled out the old sphag , rinsed it several times during the process and gently pushed the new medium around it. It still seems very happy, i might have just been lucky (it was in spike at the time and still is) it had pushed out two blooms since then and its new PB is still happy and growing bigger.

[fotofashion]

My Psychopsis papilio finally is coming out of its wintertime holding pattern. I had despaired of its ever blooming but, lo and behold, the bud is growing. I might have a flower soon.
My potting medium also looks nasty but no way am I going to risk losing this flower. After the flower dries up then I'll consider repotting it.
Beverly A.

[jrodpad]

The bud continues to grow! No flower yet but each day the bud gets closer to opening.

Here are the pics I've taken to track the growth of the bud.

[Donald]

Patience jrodpad, Patience.

[jrodpad]

I know.... but I have a vacation coming up and I REALLY don't want to miss the show.

- J

[jrodpad]

It finally happened! The world's slowest psychopsis bud got over its chronic shyness and exploded into a beautiful flower. This is why I'm madly in love with the psychopsis. It's so intricate - so showy. And for all the waiting, the bud went from closed to fully open in about 24 hours.

I could stare at this bloom all day. If you look at my last post in this thread you can see the progression from tiny bud to flower.

Hope you like it!

- J

[natasha]

awesome!!! they slow for sure... mine is still in bud, i think from last month???