Psychopsis growing problem

[Kevinator]

Hey guys. I know I've asked a crapload of questions lately and I apologize for all the new threads. This time, its about my psychopsis. During the first year of its growth at my house, it did well and produced a spike for me. Since then, the new growths are getting progressively smaller (each one is a few inches smaller then the last one) and the leaves are much thinner than the older ones. Not only that, it stopped producing spikes (its been 5 years since that occurrence). Bulbs are a little wrinkled too. Any ideas? Should I repot this thing in spring with a more moisture retainive mix? I have it overpotted in very coarse bark in a 8 inch pot (wish home depot sold 7 inch pots :P). It's been in a southeast window with blinds ever since I bought the thing and it gets water once a week, regardless of season.

[Leafmite]

I wish I could help you but when I bought my Psychopsis Mendenhall 'Hildos', it was the size of my thumbnail, in sphagnum moss, and had a few roots no longer than a quarter of an inch long. I put this tiny thing in a six-inch basket pot with red lava rock and it has been there for the past four years, the leaves increasing in size with each flush of growth. I would honestly be afraid to move a blooming-sized one into this set up, though, as it might be too much of a change. Hopefully, someone else can offer advice. Good luck!

---------- Post added at 12:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:40 PM ----------

I think it is good to ask questions. When I decided to grow under lights (starting this autumn), I did a bunch of research but I still had quite a few questions (the thread is on another forum). Thankfully, people were very willing to help me. And, then there are those orchids I buy that I have no idea how to grow....

[Bud]

Once a week watering regimen is fine. But I suggest you repot it in a 4 inches diameter pot and use the proper media mix for it. You should use a media that drains well with ingredients like tree fern and charcoal that help "open up" the mix.
This orchid plant has very sensitive roots and they are tiny so you need to anchor the plant so it wont wobble.The roots will not tolerate sour conditions and do not like to be repotted frequently. Using a fast draining mix will add to the length of time you can keep the plants in the same container.
Ideally, repotting must be done in the spring when new roots appear. But your situation is different you must repot it now.
Removing spikes when repotting will allow the plant to use more of its energy to get established in its new container.
The position of the light in the southeast window is ideal.
Make sure to drench the whole plant with physan 20 when you repot it.
This kind of plant is prone to bacteria and fungi infestation.

[Kevinator]

I just repotted this thing and the whole root system was brown except for a few white growing roots. Only one ever reached the bottom of the 8 inch pot. This is bad. Really bad. I sprayed the roots with fungicide then repotted it in dry orchiata bark (5A, their coarsest bark) in a 6 inch nursery pot. What to do now? This is the crown jewels of my collection and I must not lose it! Help please!

[ALToronto]

I keep mine in lava rock and water it every day, sometimes skipping a day. You can't overwater in lava rock. It's been blooming non-stop from the same spike for over a year.

[Daethen]

Mine is in a small bark mix and I keep in a saucer of water that rarely dries out and it gets almost full sun. Growing like crazy. Been blooming for over a year on the same spike which subspiked for me.

[Paphluvr]

You may want to read this article by Carter & Holmes on Psychopsis

http://http://carterandholmes.com/oncindpapcare.html

[silken]

I grow mine in a small clear pot that is almost a net pot. I use fine #9 Orchiata and chunky perlite. It is in a small pot for the size of plant it is, but seems very happy. It grows well and has had 3 blooming spikes for the last year. Now I see another new growth and I think another spike. I would think chunky bark is too big. It has roots more like most Oncidiums which I pot in finer mix. I water it quite frequently and it seems to like a fair bit of moisture. It is in moderate to low light.

[Leafmite]

When I got mine, I was told to put it in a really fast-draining mix and water like crazy. That is what led to the red lava rock...that and the rumor that they do not like being re-potted. Is that rumor actually true?

[silken]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

When I got mine, I was told to put it in a really fast-draining mix and water like crazy. That is what led to the red lava rock...that and the rumor that they do not like being re-potted. Is that rumor actually true?

I read that too so I put it in Orchiata and perlite. Orchiata is supposed to last a lot longer than regular bark.