What do you do?

[zxyqu]

This is all really great information for any average/newer grower.

As to the original commentary, I think it's all a process. As a newer person myself a few years ago I did too much, too quickly. I bought everything with a pretty flower, regardless of knowing what type it was or if I could care for it. Now, I feel more comfortable trying newer things because I follow Paul/Ray/Philip's/all of OBs recommendations. 45 minutes of so a "homework," and it can save you 6 months of watching a plant die.

Also, funny this is about a psychopsis. I bought 2 originally, both stared at me looking lifeless, and one died shortly after. That's when I found Ray's website about growing recommendations. Ever since, the last one survived quite well, and has bloomed 2 times for me since.

Good luck!

[Daethen]

I must be the odd one out on the psychopsis issue. I have had lots of luck with keeping mine alive and getting new blooms and new growths. I have terrible luck with other onc. I repotted 2 of mine a couple of months ago and they are doing great even though I heard they can be finicky about repotting. Ah well, I'll take it as I love them.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Here's a link to a culture sheet for Psychopsis papilio:

Psychopsis papilio Culture

I think this might help you out.

[Leafmite]

You aren't the odd one. I have a small psychopsis mendenhall 'hildos' and it has been growing faster than many of the cattleyas. At this rate, it might become blooming size in one or two years.
As for whether I try again after killing a plant, I would if I could figure out a way to grow it better and I still really want the plant but I would not waste my money otherwise. Research and observation is really important.
Leafmite

[quiltergal]

If I kill one I try to figure out what I did wrong growing it before buying another. It's frustrating to keep doing the same thing and expect a different result each time. If I can't adjust my growing condtions to suit the plant then it seems pointless to buy another one.

[RJSquirrel]

very nice ...ya know the problem with the psychopsis and me >...I keep trying them bec I really feel I'm doing nothing wrong with them. Kind of my new term... "sociorchipathic".
I read all about them and they just don't like me. I'm even more determined now. Maybe I should buy a very small one instead of buying them in spike or matured. They have been quite used to their environment by that time and may just not like the drastic change in my home coming from greenhouses. I might have to think small on this one and nurture it.

great stuff!!!

[Leafmite]

RJ,
Try planting your new psychopsis in red lava rock and a net pot. It is much more difficult to kill orchids planted this way. The rock and net pot always offers air around the roots and lava doesn't break down, so it gives the orchid roots ideal conditions. I even overpot so I won't need to disturb the orchid again by repotting. When I switched to lava rock, I had nearly given up on orchids because they were all half-dead. I thought orchids were just too difficult. So frustrating as I grew lots of other plants! Lava rock was a last ditch effort to save my orchids. Now, I find orchids easy. And, no, volcanos do not pay me for this glowing recommendation.
I do prefer smaller orchids because they are cheaper but, then, I don't have pictures of flowers to post or beauties to show off at society meetings. Then there are those just-out-of-flask aeranthes seedlings...will I still be alive when they bloom? So, my cheapskate ways do have disadvantages (lava rock is really, really cheap). Good luck, RJ. I wish you much success this time!
Leafmite

[tenacity]

Originally Posted by RosieC

Well easy to grow is different for different people of course.

Exactly!
I was listening to a talk once where the presenter was saying that orchid people are funny. They will fall in love with a specific orchid and bend over backwards trying to contrive the specific environmental conditions needed to grow it well. Things would be much simpler if we all took note of our individual growing conditions, and purchased plants that were known to do well in those conditions!

But that is not always as much fun...

[Merlyn]

We're all speaking the same language here ! I admit to being an impulsive-buying-gotta-have-one-of-everything novice that was winging it during the first few years after being exposed to the orchid addiction ! What REALLY hooked me is when I found that by some miracle there were actually some chids that LIKED what I was doing even if I DIDN'T know what that was !!! Thankfully I "bent" that way towards them and discovered more about them and was able to let go of the ones I wanted so badly but couldn't "bend" for. So I found three genuses (genii ?) that I do really well with and I can never get too many of and I'm happily struggling along trying to keep them and myself in the necessities !!

Never stop learning whatever way you can and do it with love, that's what counts !

[glengary54]

Originally Posted by Merlyn

So I found three genuses (genii ?)

Merlyn - Not trying to be the spelling/grammar police, but you did include a question mark. lol

genus - genera