Bent leaf on Psychopsis - Orchid Board

cbennett4041 · #1 12-04-2011, 09:27 PM

So I lost a Psychopsis mariposa a few weeks ago. The flower store (not orchid store) I bought it from kept it way to wet and overpotted; I thought it was worth a try at $10. You win some, you loose some.

Hoping not to loose twice, I thought I'd ask about my other Psychopsis. I purchased it at the same time from the same place, but it's doing better than its late sister. My question regards its newest leaf, however. It seems as though it's seen an unfortunate crease, but I don't remember it happening. I just noticed the leaf flopped over about a month or two ago. Since then, I've tied it up for support.

If it's not from mechanical damage, perhaps it lost turgidity due to underwatering? I was letting it dry fairly long since it was so wet at the flower shop. Let me know what you think.

Fernando · #2 12-05-2011, 11:53 AM

I think this plant has been long time at low light - give a Psychopsis plenty of light and if you can, even sun! Misting early in the morning - not watering - until the new growth appears. It might take long! But as more light the plant gets, more likely it is that it will grow. With new roots you can water.
Lots of luck to you and your wonderful Psychopsis!

Fer

camille1585 · #3 12-05-2011, 01:09 PM

From experience with my Psychopsis, new growth tends to flop over in the beginning until the leaf toughens up. However they are usually upright well before attaining the size of the one on your plant.

Like Fer says, they do appreciate good light. In insufficient light the markings in the leaves will fade away nearly completely. Assuming that all Psychopsis have some leaf markings, if you are not seeing any then low light could be an issue.

The other thing may be that it's dehydrated, like you say. The bulbs do look quite shriveled, more than they should be. Whether it's due to your underwatering or root rot set in, I don't know. These guys had being disturbed, but it may be worth it to have a look at the roots, (perhaphs downsize the pot), and at least you'll know exactly where the problem lays.

I've had great success growing my plant in a 3.5in net pot, which is placed in a larger transparent pot. the roots have gone through the net pot and colonized the empty space.

cbennett4041 · #4 12-05-2011, 11:41 PM

Interesting. I have the plant in a south window, but it was 20 feet from the nearest window at the shop. I filter the light slightly with a window blind set to be about half open. Cattleyas and Dendrobiums grow in this window with the Pyschopsis. Will this be enough light?

I was thinking about unpotting it to look, but I sort of think that is what sent my last one even quicker into decline. I was using ceramics a lot... I've recently been switching to well-breathing plastic pots. I'll give that some thought.

I do mist, as well. Earlyish, around 6:45 AM. What is the concensus for watering? I use a skewer to determine when to water: should I let it get absolutely dry to the touch as with Cattleyas?

---------- Post added at 09:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:37 PM ----------

Fernando: how much sun can they tolerate? I can move the plant to my other south window which I let receive full light. I have Cape sundews, American pitcher plants, and an orange tree growing in that window, all of which are sun loving plants. Too much sun, do you think?