Psychopsis Mendenhall 'Hildos'

[Bud]

Thank You, Rosie !!!!

[fotofashion]

I have had my "Hildos" for quite some time. Fearing to repot it, I just put it, pot and all, in a larger pot and filled that with media. Well, there it has sat for probably a year, not doing anything. No bloom, no new growths. I was getting pretty unhappy with it until today when I went out to the GH to look at everything. I decided to give the plant a closer look and WHAT? Is that a new growth? I had to put on my glasses to make sure. Not only one new growth but three. I am totally amazed and happy. Now all I need is a spike (or three).
Beverly A.

[Bud]

Originally Posted by fotofashion

I have had my "Hildos" for quite some time. Fearing to repot it, I just put it, pot and all, in a larger pot and filled that with media. Well, there it has sat for probably a year, not doing anything. No bloom, no new growths. I was getting pretty unhappy with it until today when I went out to the GH to look at everything. I decided to give the plant a closer look and WHAT? Is that a new growth? I had to put on my glasses to make sure. Not only one new growth but three. I am totally amazed and happy. Now all I need is a spike (or three).
Beverly A.

Thanks for the visit and your short story.
How exciting for you, you must be doing something right for the plant to give you new growths. Yes, if there is new growths then there will be new spikes when it matures.

---------- Post added at 03:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:58 PM ----------

Originally Posted by TOMMYMIAMI

Love this one! Very nice and lots of blooms!

Thank You Tommy!!!!

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Love this one! Very nice and lots of blooms!

[megrim]

Beautiful flowers on this.

I've wanted one myself for the longest time, but I've had a few friends who just cannot seem to keep their alive, and they've been in the hobby much longer than I have, so I'm wary.

Photos like yours are likely to push me over the edge though lol

[Bud]

Originally Posted by megrim

Beautiful flowers on this.

I've wanted one myself for the longest time, but I've had a few friends who just cannot seem to keep their alive, and they've been in the hobby much longer than I have, so I'm wary.

Photos like yours are likely to push me over the edge though lol

Thank You !

I am a windowsill grower. This plant is on the west facing window all year. I follow the culture religiously and I also put the pot in (yes IN!) a saucer of water. When the water has evaporated its time to water the pot in the sink for 5 minutes, then set it up again. My apartment has centralized temperature control because the building was recently upgraded 5 yrs ago. This plant was farmed in a GH and has never experienced outdoors.

[Vanda lover]

Bud, what medium do you grow this in? It grows in a saucer of water, similar to a phrag?

[Bud]

I potted it in a mixture of medium bark, charcoal, lava rock, hydroton and tree fern shards.
* the pot is in a saucer with water in it....not the plant in a saucer of water. I use the kind of saucer paired to a coffee cup.

[hagfish]

I have the species and always try to keep the pseudobulbs plump. It does not appear to have a dormant season. It is also tolerant of very hard water, as long as there is no lime accumulation. It seems to prefer high light for the best blooming. The leaves begin to mottle a pattern of maroon streaks. This has been indirect light however, not direct sun. The worst pest this plant acquires is helmet scale. In a large collection this scale is almost impossible to eradicate. The scale targets the bloom spikes. Fortunately the ends can be cut back several inches and a new growth will emerge. I have found a very dilute solution of nicotine sulfate and Windex glass cleaner is very effective against helmet scale. This pesticide is very toxic and hard to acquire, but ordinary cigarette butts can be soaked in Windex and make a good pesticide spray.

[Bud]

Originally Posted by hagfish

I have the species and always try to keep the pseudobulbs plump. It does not appear to have a dormant season. It is also tolerant of very hard water, as long as there is no lime accumulation. It seems to prefer high light for the best blooming. The leaves begin to mottle a pattern of maroon streaks. This has been indirect light however, not direct sun. The worst pest this plant acquires is helmet scale. In a large collection this scale is almost impossible to eradicate. The scale targets the bloom spikes. Fortunately the ends can be cut back several inches and a new growth will emerge. I have found a very dilute solution of nicotine sulfate and Windex glass cleaner is very effective against helmet scale. This pesticide is very toxic and hard to acquire, but ordinary cigarette butts can be soaked in Windex and make a good pesticide spray.

Thanks for the heads-up.
I have seen those helmet scales on one of my Tolumnias, and it can decimate a new growth. The scales can be removed by a plastic knife but the eggs are hard to eradicate. I just deal with the scales when it hatch so they do not lay eggs and add to the aggravation.

---------- Post added at 02:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:12 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Ed b

I have one that just got it's 4'th spike this year ,one of the old spikes didn't bloom last year but is this year. Have had 6 blooms so far this year.Now if only my alba form will get it's first spike.(young plant)and two new bulbs this year'

Thank You for the visit.

Post pictures of your blooms.

This orchid plant is forming buds on each spike again= the alba is also budding.

---------- Post added at 02:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:14 PM ----------

Originally Posted by gardengirl13

Ok what am I doing wrong?! I've had my psychopsis since oct 2012 and haven't gotten a spike yet. Ok, I'm sounding horribly impatient here since it's only been just under 18 months! But Norman (yes silly I named him Norman from Psycho) seems fairly happy. I get new leaf growths, new roots. No spikes. I had him in a shaded (shear curtain) south window on the western side so he only got shaded morning sun, in our last house. We moved in late Nov and now he's in an east window where he again gets morning sun, and bright light the rest of the day. I've read that if they have new leaf growth but no spikes then move them to a brighter spot. But in a month or two our western windows will be shaded by trees. I'm not sure they'll get even a little sun. I think the east window will still be the brightest spot in the house. Should I get a small light and move him? I don't really want to do that if I can help it. I have him cramped in a small pot. I do like the idea of putting them in a bigger pot to keep the leaves upright more! I'll have to do that as all his new leaves are about 8" long at least! He's spreading quite far! For some reason this little guy I will NOT give up on! I ahve two others who also have not spiked in 2-3 years, if nothing comes of them by yard sale day, they'll be out on the table and replaced. But this one I'm determined to see bloom! I have no clue why! ha ha! Another which should be in bloom right now and isn't was an anniversary gift so I don't want to give that one up either. But I'll post another thread on that since it's not a psychopsis.

Any suggestions?

Be patient. Once your plant spikes and produce blooms, it will keep on giving you flowers.
It seems that you are following your instincts and providing the plant with good care.
Let it stay on the brightest window you have and let it stay there. Do not keep moving it.
Find a cache pot where the original pot can be lowered into it at least three inches from the rim. The long cache pot with train the leaves to grow upright. It will also hold it and not let it keep on dislodging its very fine roots when you water it.
This is the warm months ahead so just give it water and fertilizer. Beginning colder months reduce fertilizer to every other week and use the low nitrogen....put a humidity tray under it.
it is in the Oncidium alliance = follow that culture.

---------- Post added at 02:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:23 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

I wish I could go to your yard sale, if you have phychopsis. I was looking at them at a show last year, but the grower had minute plants for an outrages price.
I hope the next show has more to offer.

I don't know if your country allows Ebay to mail you plants. Kawamoto from Hawaii have large specimen sized plants on bid or 'buy it now'; there are also other vendors from Florida selling it.