Getting into the world of Mini's!

[Franco24]

Hello everyone! Happy New Years' to you all.

My New Years resolution is to stop buying orchids ... at least in bulk. One or two plants a month is much more affordable and easy to accommodate. I've quickly crowded up my bedroom with 75 or so orchids and 15 more on the way. Paphs, Bulbos, Vandas, Cattleyas, and Epidendrums nonetheless. And the best part is I already have orchids sitting on top of the computer printer and on my hard wood floors. So where I'm going to put these is beyond me.

Anyways, there are two mini-orchids I've been after for quite some time and I've decided to treat myself to both of them as a "last buy" for the season (getting too cold for shipping).

I just placed an order with Andy for a blooming sized Sophronitis coccinea and Psychopsiella limminghei! They are being shipped overnight express and I should receive them by Friday of this week (depending on when he ships). To say the least, I'm absolutely stoked and could not wait to share. The anticipation begins for their arrival and I'll be sure to update with plenty of pictures once they arrive.

In the meantime, does anyone here have any experience with these plants that they'd like to share? Care wise?

[Chris147]

I know from personal experience that the Psychopsiella limminghei is a VERY temperamental plant. You have to give it everything it wants or it will go down hill very fast. When I recieved mine, it was in bud. The bud soon died, but I figured it was because of all the stress and moving. Soon after it put out a new growth. I thought I was doing good, but then the growth died. The growth before that also died. Luckily, my plant put out another new growth from the bottom. This was about a month or so ago. It still has not fully matured. I got my plant from Andy as well. Most likely it will be mounted on a shingle looking piece of wood with a little moss behind it. I have to water my plant everyday because it dries out. That's all I have as of now. If I think of anything else I will post it.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

First off, I want to say that I love Psychopsiella limminghei. It is a cute little plant. I love it for the vegetation. This plant definitely has a unique appearance and growth habit as you'll see when it arrives at your home. I like the flowers too, but as you continue to read on, you'll start to understand why I don't emphasize its flowers as much as I do the plant itself. I just don't want to give people the false impression that I abhor this species from the next few following statements. I want to impress on people that I'm using some wry humor when I describe the traits of Psychopsiella limminghei.

Psychopsiella limminghei is, in my opinion, not the best beginner's mini. I tend to believe it is suited for people with a bit more experience and a lot more patience under their belts.

Why throw patience into the mix?

Well...because they are ridiculously slow growing by nature. I have had mine for approximately 4 years, and it hasn't grown significantly larger than when I first got it.

They also don't produce a lot of roots per pseudobulb. Each pseudobulb usually produces no more than 5 roots.

In my experience, it also tends to be a stubborn bloomer. I haven't seen it produce a spike once, let alone bloom, in the years that I've had it.

It grows in bright shade, and you'll know if it hasn't received adequate light when the brown mottled patterns on the leaves fade.

They can tolerate temperatures down to 36 F at night. They're also very tolerant of temperatures that reach upwards of 90 F or above.

I don't have a huge problem with new shoots dying off, but I have had it happen once. But being how slow this plant grows, that is actually a somewhat devastating loss. Fortunately each mature pseudobulb is extremely long lived.

I have mine mounted on a piece of tree fern pole.

If you're into the flattened round pseudobulbs that cling closely to the mount, and the heart shaped leaves with the mottled dark brown patterns, and don't mind that it blooms with some difficulty, (and very infrequently at that), as much as I do, then you're in for a treat.



I have never grown Sophronitis coccinea, but I have grown Sophronitis cernua.

If Sophronitis coccinea grows anything as close to how slow Sophronitis cernua grows, then you may have just purchased yourself 2 of the slower growing species of miniature orchids to start off with.

Again, when I was growing Sophronitis cernua, I adored how cute the plants themselves were. So if Sophronitis coccinea is like Sophronitis cernua, it might also be a bit of a stubborn bloomer as well, and hence, you may end up having to find some charming features to adore with the vegetation itself.

[Franco24]

Thanks for the replies! I agree 110% with you king! I bought Psychopsiella solely for the foliage and growth pattern. I grow 4 psychopsis and absolutely love them for whatever reason. So once I found this I had to have it. It's very different. Slower growing is fine with me.

Both of these plants will reside on the computer desk with they're own light fixture to be shared with a Tolumnia 'Genting Angel' and Oncidium 'Carnival Costume'.

From what I understand both plants like frequent watering (almost daily) because they dry out rather quickly. And that patience is key to their success. How are they with fertilizer and stuff along those lines? I fertilize all my orchids with Gro-More 20-20-20 Orchid fert every other watering. Would that suffice for these two, or do they need something special?

[DelawareJim]

I found Soph. coccinea can be somewhat easier once you understand the plant better.

I bought my plant from a very reliable dealer potted in pure sphagnum. The dealer spcializes in Japanese orchids like Neofinetia falcata, Sedirea japonica, Dendrobium moneliforme, and Sophronitis coccinea, which although a Brazilian plant, the Japanese are crazy about.

Anyway, I religiously followed the cultural instructions and lost half he plant to rot. While e-mailing a friend who keeps and breeds "mini-catts", he reminded me that Sophronitis has been reclassified as Cattleya and he treats all his Sophronitis the same as his Catts. So I repotted mine in a bark mix I use for Catts gave it more light and it has just exploded in new growth.

So, long storey short, treat it like a Cattleya and you should be good to go.

Cheers.
Jim

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I forgot to mention a specific thing about how the Psychopsiella limminghei was mounted...

It is mounted on a tree fern pole without moss.

So in that respect, yes, it gets watered daily.

Btw, the roots are not stubby, they get fairly long. I just don't know how long because they tunnel into the recesses of the tree fern pole. One thing's for sure, I have never seen the roots exit the tree fern pole.

[Franco24]

Well, They arrived!!!! The psychopsiella came with a new growth and the Sophronitis came with a new lead and bud.

[SOS]

Ive been growing my limminghei for about five years and would struggle to grow it in my home. If you can grow Tolumnias well, then this species shouldn't be too much more challenging. Make sure it has good air movement. I drench the whole mount in hydrogen peroxide often and try to flush out salts with RO more frequently.

Coccinea, does not grow like a cernua. Cernua can tolerate lower humidity, higher temperatures, poor water quality, and usually more light. Do the first three as best you can.

[Franco24]

Good news! After only having the plants for 10 days I can see new root growth all over the psychopsiella. That dunk in KLN must have done something ... The Sophronitis coccinea also decided to BLOOM! Most stunning little flower ever.

[Franco24]

Well ... so much for a cramped growing space ... and so much for only buying miniatures ...
I just won a Bulbophyllum phalaenopsis.