DONT disturb the roots - OR - Is the AOS wrong?

[nzadro]

Originally Posted by MJG

Nzadro, you're asking about the psychopsis Mendenhall 'hildos' from Hausermann, right? I ordered two of the ones you plan to order. They arrived mid-May in perfect shape. They are potted and I do not feel the need to repot them this year.

Hausermann is excellent. I've bought from them for years. During this covid 19 time, their orders understandably have been taking 2-3 weeks to fulfill. Maybe that's improved as we're reopening. Their website had a statement about delays when I ordered.

I live in central/upstate NY state within growing conditions somewhat similar to yours. I grow my psychopsis in my house in a room with a northeast exposure. My humidity is like yours, 40-50% with humidifiers. I also, like you, have a terrarium. Mine stays at 70-75 degrees with 70-80% humidity. I did not put my 2 new little psychopses in my terrarium. I didn't feel like they needed it. I already have a psychopsis that I grew to maturity in my regular growing conditions. It's thrived. Also, within a couple of years these will get too big for a small terrarium.

Thank you for the reply!

You have given me additional hope. I appreciate you writing out your home growing conditions to give me a better idea. I will decide against placing them in the terrarium.

Yes, the Psychopsis Mendenhall Hildos is the exact orchid in question. Did you need to add bark/medium to any part to the pot after a few days transit?

[MJG]

No, I didn't have to change anything. I did set the plastic pots down inside bigger clay pots. That has nothing to do with growing conditions. It's just because I tend to accidentally knock little pots over if they're top heavy.

Here, I have some eye candy for you. I just took a "family portrait" and some close up shots of the 2 little ones. I think yours will look just like these little guys.

I bought my big mature one 3 years ago in a 3" pot. At the time I think it was probably a year older than our little plants. You can see how it's grown!

[MJG]

Nzadro, I want to add one thought. I described my growing conditions. These are my conditions in my growing space. They are the best conditions that I can provide my plants, but they're not necessarily optimal. My psychopsis has done well here, but please also check the AOS recommendations and other resources too.

[nzadro]

Originally Posted by MJG

No, I didn't have to change anything. I did set the plastic pots down inside bigger clay pots. That has nothing to do with growing conditions. It's just because I tend to accidentally knock little pots over if they're top heavy.

Here, I have some eye candy for you. I just took a "family portrait" and some close up shots of the 2 little ones. I think yours will look just like these little guys.

I bought my big mature one 3 years ago in a 3" pot. At the time I think it was probably a year older than our little plants. You can see how it's grown!

WOW! Look at that! Thank you for the images.
These are absolutely delightful & look mighty healthy, too.
Is your mature one also from Hausermann?

My order was just placed
I also added a Paph Venustum & Trichocentrum tigrinum (for my terrarium) to my cart. Really looking forward to watching these young plants grow!

[JScott]

I tried a Psychopsis once. It was a hybrid, I think Mendenhall, or whichever one is the most popular. It didn't go well. It was in spike when I got it, but the spike died. I had it planted in bark. The new growth started to grow, then stalled out and died. Then another new growth did the same. This continued until all the dormant eyes had tried to grow and died, until there were no more eyes from which growth could come, so I ended up with a plant that couldn't possibly grow any more. I still kept it for a couple years. It appeared healthy with good roots and fat bulbs, but it had no way to continue growing. After a couple years, i got sick of looking it and composted it. I still have no idea why that happened or what i did wrong. I had it growing outside in the summer in moderately high light (good color, but no burn) then I brought it inside for the winter by a bright window, and every time a new growth started, it would get an inch or two tall, and then die until it had no morer eyes left to grow. That was my last attempt at Psychopsis. It was very frustrating.

[Leafmite]

Try again. I did (bought two little ones from Hausermann's)and both are doing quite well. I had something similar happen when I tried to grow my first one under the lights...perhaps because I did not water often enough,but, of course, I may have also neglected the Calcium during the summer. Here they are, small, but at a good price and healthy:

Psychopsis Mendenhall 'Hildos' FCC/AOS: Orchids By Hausermann

[farley101]

JScott, that is brutal! I had read a bunch of horror stories about messing with the plant but still decided to do so. Luckily for me it worked out, I can see how an experience like that would put you off of Psycopsis!

[SouthPark]

J.S. ----- sorry to hear about that one. Hard to pin-point the issue there. In my tropical region here - North East Australia --- my psychopsis has been growing well in scoria, mainly in medium light conditions with most of the time --- no direct sunlight ----- but sometimes it does get gentle morning direct sunlight - no issues. For this particular plant, I just water toward the sides of the pot ----- and the roots can even dry out for a little bit (even though I water pretty much every morning). The growing area generally has gentle air-movement. And I do once-a-month weak fertiliser into the media (beginning of each month), then a weak mag-cal into the media middle of each month. And all other times are just plain watering.

For your psychopsis that you had, maybe just monitor the temperature and humidity when it's brought inside. If they're good, and if you get gentle-air movement indoors too, and assuming good lighting conditions, then the focus will probably be on the media and watering schedule.

If your psychopsis was growing normally outside (assuming the leaves were growing etc), then it is those conditions (temperature, lighting level, humidity airing etc.) that could be considered - just to see what differences came up when brought indoors. If you spot any major differences, and might be able to narrow the gap between growing conditions ------ then could definitely try again in the future!

[WaterWitchin]

Try again JScott. Maybe that one just didn't like ya. I have two that I've abused in any way possible. Especially my first, the Mendellhall Hildos. I know Dolly also has one she abuses regularly and it thrives.

Yes, we are encouraging you to buy another orchid. What are friends for?

[farley101]

As promised, here is my newest Psychopsis Mendenhall from Hausermann's. Big leaf has a bite out of it but otherwise fine. New growth starting off the back of that bulb. Need to get a pot to move it into since it seems to be in pretty active growth.