Psychopsis Mariposa

[farley101]

Sorry DC! Didn't mean to drag up any bad memories!

[DirtyCoconuts]

hahaha its okay...WW beats me up enough to keep my ego in check....

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I have found Psychopsis to be very unforgiving of having roots disturbed. Doing so can make them sulk for years, or just decide to die. If you really must repot, shake off what comes easily but disturb as little as possible. Or ideally not at all.

It could be true Roberta. Although, a couple of years or so ago - at an orchid show, I purchased a Mendenhall 'Hildos' on impulse - only because I saw some photos of it online, with the flowers looking like yellow robots or something. Other people see other shapes hahaha.

Anyway, I can't remember what it was growing in now, but I did the regular thing - unpotted it, removed all the existing medium from roots, and popped it into 5 to 8 mm average diameter scoria. It continued growing - business as usual.

Doing really well in scoria. I didn't know what to expect actually heheheh. It's my only Psychopsis. I had only tried scoria because my paphs and phrags are doing nicely in it here. And the leaves of Psychopsis just reminded me of paph/phrag leaves.

[Roberta]

SP, you got lucky. Scoria apparently works really well for you. It may be ideal for this one, since you will never need to repot it unless it outgrows the pot (in which case, just drop into a bigger pot) You also got lucky comparing it to Paphs and Phrags, since they grow under completely different conditions. (How did those hard, stiff leaves remind you of a floppy Phrag, or even a Paph?) Your humid, tropical climate may be a great leveler where the medium is irrelevant. Not so for the rest of us.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Roberta

SP, you got lucky. Scoria apparently works really well for you. It may be ideal for this one, since you will never need to repot it unless it outgrows the pot (in which case, just drop into a bigger pot) You also got lucky comparing it to Paphs and Phrags, since they grow under completely different conditions. (How did those hard, stiff leaves remind you of a floppy Phrag, or even a Paph?) Your humid, tropical climate may be a great leveler where the medium is irrelevant. Not so for the rest of us.

Roberta ----- I believe you're right about growing conditions. In my region here, I really think that scoria is a suitable medium for a lot of orchids - supported by the conditions here ----- adequate humidity most of the times, temperature range good etc.

The leaves just have the mottling shape and had some paph leaf resemblance.

The medium isn't exactly irrelevant though ....... in my opinion. Some consideration still needs to be made about how we use that media here. How and when we water etc. But - for a lot of times or most times through-out the year ------- totally agree that the region and climate here is an advantage for growing a good range of orchids.

What I admire about growers like you and others - in other climates - particular very cold climate countries or dry etc ----- is that you find particular methods to compensat ------ and provide the necessary conditions for particular plants - for healthy growth (and flowering).

[Roberta]

Yeah, I'm a bit jealous of those who don't have to stress over temperature, wild variations in humidity, and all the rest... we have to tweak to get damp but not too damp... And I'm luckier than most since "cold" is relative - a challenge to manage but a whole lot less likely to be fatal than in places that get SERIOUS cold.

[WaterWitchin]

I was going to get to this yesterday, but it didn't happen. The original query was about the below plant I'd just gotten, and whether to move it.

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Went to the garden show this weekend to see an orchid buddy who's a retailer, breeder, etc, etc. Just to visit. Not to buy. He always brings a couple of "special" things for me and keeps them under the table. Then I have to go crawling around under the table until I find them. Nice guy, right? Guess what I came home with. A Psychopsis Mariposa 'Green Valley' with a spike. With my name on it, for $20.



I'm still debating whether to go ahead and put in SH now. Spagh and I don't play well together. But the Psych Mendelhall Hildos I have didn't skip a beat. Then again, it wasn't in spike. Decisions, decisions.

So I debated for a long time... maybe three days, which is a long time for me. And decided there was no way I could grow it in sphag or bark, because I'm just tuned into SH now and easily kill anything I don't transfer.

So here it is as of yesterday. Crappy pictures, but weather has been really gloomy lately. Can you see the new pbulb that's about two+ inches long coming up to the left of the spike base?



And here's a better picture of the spike...



Let me tell you, getting all that damned sphag out of it was more than a chore. But again, didn't skip a beat. There's a bunch of root growth, and because it was in sphag instead of bark almost all the old roots have stayed okay except for one top one that I didn't get covered well. So for me, so far, they just aren't that picky about being pried around on. Or maybe it's because this lovely Kansas weather is exactly what this tropical plant requires? Or maybe it's to just put the screws to DC one more time?

[DirtyCoconuts]

that is great news....and a terrific way to keep an over inflated ego in check!


although....it looks like i was right! LOL

even a stopped clock....

[Dollythehun]

I seem to recall when I got mine I repotted immediately. I didn't know better. But, it hasn't been repotted or even lifted since then. I pour water over it and walk away. I am a bad plant mommy. It now has 4 spikes and s new growth...

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

I pour water over it and walk away. I am a bad plant mommy. It now has 4 spikes and s new growth...

A bad plant mommy would not have 4 spikes and a new growth! You're giving it exactly what it wants... to be ignored, just sit back and enjoy the show.