Psychopsis Mariposa

[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.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Don’t move it yet. Spikes are fleeting and you won’t hurt her in the time it takes for that to open and give a show and retire.

Then you can avoid an unfortunate knock and or bud blast from the change.

---------- Post added at 11:31 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:31 AM ----------

Oh, and amazing score btw.

[WaterWitchin]

DC... these bloom continuously for years on the same spike. I'm old, and don't think I can wait that long.

---------- Post added at 10:41 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:40 AM ----------

Plus I'm always up for a good gamble/challenge.

[signin1234]

Neato

[DirtyCoconuts]

step right up!!! who's feeling lucky??? lol

if you are gentle it'll be fine and if it really blooms like that it will respike from that one even if it blasts at first.

[WaterWitchin]

DC have you grown psycopsis before? No offense intended.

[Dollythehun]

They spike and the spikes rebloom for years. If she breaks off the spike, its toast until it grows another.

Lovely, WW. A great find!

[WaterWitchin]

And I’m concerned about breaking off the spike. If I transfer the spike might blow. It’s new and just growing.

DC... Psycopsis is a genus that absolutely hates having its roots messed with, period. Not only messing with its roots with a new first spike PLUS having to get all the spagh out AND transferring to a totally different media (SH) is not a small gamble. Still trying to decide whether to hold ‘em or fold ‘em.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

DC have you grown psycopsis before? No offense intended.

Nope, i was just basing that on all the other highly floriferous plants i have dealt with, not about breaking the spike, but if the plant self terminated the buds.....my experience has been that they CAN (not always) respike from the same spike when the plant is still in that "hormonal" phase

i was not trying to spread gospel, more just being encouraging about the move given the alternative sounded unappealing to you. Please never, and this goes for everyone, take my advice as anything more than worthless internet chatter and anecdotal at best.

[OrchidBro]

WW - Just my but I say leave it be for now. At least get a few flowers off the inflorescence and enjoy them before switching over to S/H. I repotted my Psychopsis Kalihi v. alba last year and was as careful as possible with the roots but it still threw a temper tantrum.