Trashed Psychopsis Mendenhall Hildos Rescue -- Looking for tips.

[captainbug]

Album of images.

I've had him a couple of weeks. I haven't pulled him out to look at roots or try and repot--I don't want to touch too much until I know exactly what to do with him.

He appears to be on just plain coarse bark. Due to the level of neglect I'm assuming no fertilizers, and obviously hasn't had enough water.

I've watered him twice, let him completely dry out in between. Watered by letting the bark soak through for a minute and drain completely before placing back under light.

He's got some new root growth since I got him, which is nice. He also appears to have a new little leaf or pseudobulb (I can't tell) that I just noticed today. It looks healthy and happy, whatever it is.

Can I get some general tips and next steps, please?

[rbarata]

Orchidwiz says:

Grow this hybrid in shaded to dappled light conditions and in warm to hot conditions, or 19°C to 29°C at night. It may be tolerant of cool (14°C to 19°C) night temperatures.

Take a look here.

[captainbug]

So far that is how it is being kept in my home, rbarata.

I've read through a few care pages. Looking more for specific tips on what to do when they're neglected to this level.

[rbarata]

Well, giving it the conditions it needs is the best (and only) thing you can do...and be patient too.

[Dollythehun]

They don't like being repotted. But, if it were mine, I'd get it in smaller bark and a pot it can stay in for a couple years. I'd start a regular watering schedule. How you water will depend on your Individual factors. Mine is in bark in a clay pot, bright light and I water 2x a week.

[Roberta]

As I mentioned in your other post, repot gently (just shake off old medium that is loose, but don't bother anything that is stuck in place) then just pop it back into the pot. I think the bark is actually pretty much the right size - Psychosis, in my experience, like to be a good bit drier than Oncidiums. Use good quality bark, and some inorganic material if you have it (perlite, diatomite, pumice, etc) with the bark - again keeping it well-drained and not needing potting until it outgrows the pot. I have found these easier to keep happy indoors than just about any other orchid, since they don't seem to mind low humidity, just want good light.

But if you have a well-drained mix that dries outquickly, you can water more frequently - which will also make it happy.

[Mechanica071]

Wow, poor little guy! I've got some experience bringing one of these back from the brink, and like everyone said above, I'd shake out the old bark and see what's going on inside the pot. I'd hate to see that fresh new root tip get munched off by a snail hiding in broken down old medium! Beyond that just give it optimal conditions, lots of light and some decent moisture without standing in water for long periods of time and it should bounce back swimmingly.

[Leafmite]

I was told by an orchid vendor here in Ohio that these like a fast draining medium and frequent watering. That might just be because of...Ohio. Other methods might work better in other climates. I grow my new seedling Psychopsis (bought this past March) in red lava rock with some egg shells added. For the pot, I use a four-inch plastic basket pot. I water frequently. It has added two new growths since March along with new roots. I bought a very young plant so it will be about five-seven years until it is blooming size.