Psychopsis Mariposa

[Akhenaten]

Originally Posted by fishmom

They are beautiful!

Thank you I like Psychopsis and Mariposa alba I like very much

[Roberta]

That's a beauty, and it seems very happy in your care!

[Akhenaten]

Originally Posted by Roberta

That's a beauty, and it seems very happy in your care!

Thank you I use LECA, non semi-hydroponics, medium-bright light, watering 2-3 times per week

[Bcarpenter]

I've read that once the pseudobulbs are completed you should withhold water and then only heavily mist every second day. Do you find this to be the case?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Bcarpenter

I've read that once the pseudobulbs are completed you should withhold water and then only heavily mist every second day. Do you find this to be the case?

No... I treat all of my Psychopsis the same all the time. And they thrive. (A couple of them I have had for about 20 years) I water every day or two in summer because they dry out fast, leave them a bit longer in winter. I just pot them in a very open medium that doesn't tend to break down (like medium-large Orchiata bark, perhaps with some perlite or pumice) because they hate having roots disturbed, and do like to dry out between waterings. I only repot when they have to be up-potted, try to disturb roots as little as possible.

Akhenaten, I think I jumped in where this was addressed to you ... what is your experience with these?

[Bcarpenter]

Very good information. I just bought a little one and have quite a few spongy brown roots in the center. Should I trim them out or leave them?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Bcarpenter

Very good information. I just bought a little one and have quite a few spongy brown roots in the center. Should I trim them out or leave them?

My inclination would be to leave them. They really, really hate having roots disturbed. Old ones will just dry up. Just pot in a medium where they will dry out quickly (which also tends to keep it from rotting), and the new roots should be fine. In this way they are different from most of the rest of the Oncidiums, which like to be on the damp side. (Two different friends have had their Psychopsis plants die after being accidentally knocked out their pots, that's how much they hate being disturbed!)

[Bcarpenter]

Great thanks.....that's what I'll do

[Akhenaten]

Originally Posted by Bcarpenter

I've read that once the pseudobulbs are completed you should withhold water and then only heavily mist every second day. Do you find this to be the case?

I don't agree. It's true, maybe, for very humidity conditions. Last winter I kept Psychopsys cool and more dry. In the spring I can't found anyone root. All roots lost. Pseudobulbs strongly fry. But he grew his spike and blooming nonstop from spring till now. He grew new big pseudobulb and new pseudobulb grows very very much and fat roots. I'll never let him dry more. Now I watering him 2 times per week. And appear, I hope, new spike.

[Roberta]

Akhenaten is correct, not dry-dry. Perhaps I exaggerated the level of dryness (not like a Catt!) But I have found that mine tolerate brief drying much more than most Oncidinae. I water often, but have very well-draining media.