Psychopsis Mendenhall 'Hildos'

[Vanda lover]

I'm going to have to look for one when I'm at the orchid show next month.

[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?

[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.

[gardengirl13]

Oh no, the yard sale will have a catt (bluebird I think the name is, I'd have to check) and a paph laser that I can't get to flower.

---------- Post added at 01:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:10 PM ----------

I got Norman from orchids limited, little high priced and he was in ok shape, not great like the other plants I got, but after a few weeks of being home he perked back up nicely. I've never seen them anywhere locally here, only online.

[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.

[Vanda lover]

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

[/COLOR]

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.[/QUOTE]

Unfortunately, no. We can't get any orchid from the states or anywhere else without the right paper work. It's maddening sometimes, because we don't have much of a selection here. Our grower here on the island is the one that was selling the tiny plants.

I also lost a tolumnia to scale. The leaves are so small that the scale really gets hold. The other one I have is still fighting them.

[Ed b]

Hope you find one.

[Vanda lover]

Originally Posted by Ed b

Hope you find one.

Thanks. The orchid sellers on ebay that don't offer shipping don't even show up for us. There is only the odd one that ships. Many Americans now have outrages shipping costs for Canadians, and offer free shipping for Americans.

[gardengirl13]

Well I can explain that a bit. The USPS has gone NUTS with international shipping. Meaning I can ship something from the east coast to the west for $20, it'll cost me $60+ to send it to Toronto. Sending it to Europe? Forget it! Figure about $100!

When I worked for the library we had a couple boxes of boxes we were donating to a library in Berlin, it would have cost us, get this, $5000 to do it! Yup 4 boxes that weighted about 20lbs each and this was maybe 3 years ago! They don't do surface shipping anymore so the costs have gone up partly due to that.

Sorry that got WAY off topic.

But trust me if I had an extra psychopsis I would send it to you for shipping only, but alas I don't, sorry!! Hopefully you find one!!

[Vanda lover]

Originally Posted by gardengirl13

Well I can explain that a bit. The USPS has gone NUTS with international shipping. Meaning I can ship something from the east coast to the west for $20, it'll cost me $60+ to send it to Toronto. Sending it to Europe? Forget it! Figure about $100!

When I worked for the library we had a couple boxes of boxes we were donating to a library in Berlin, it would have cost us, get this, $5000 to do it! Yup 4 boxes that weighted about 20lbs each and this was maybe 3 years ago! They don't do surface shipping anymore so the costs have gone up partly due to that.

Sorry that got WAY off topic.

But trust me if I had an extra psychopsis I would send it to you for shipping only, but alas I don't, sorry!! Hopefully you find one!!

Thanks Gardengirl. That explains a lot. It's a shame, because they are losing part of their market. Our shipping has changed too, but we can still send a small package to Europe for just a few dollars, but we can't get insurance anymore.

---------- Post added at 11:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:42 AM ----------

Originally Posted by gardengirl13

Oh no, the yard sale will have a catt (bluebird I think the name is, I'd have to check) and a paph laser that I can't get to flower.

---------- Post added at 01:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:10 PM ----------

I got Norman from orchids limited, little high priced and he was in ok shape, not great like the other plants I got, but after a few weeks of being home he perked back up nicely. I've never seen them anywhere locally here, only online.

I never see orchids at yard sales! I would love that. They have them year round here.