Psychopsis Butterfly blooms galore!

[camille1585]

Looks like I'm swinging from one extreme to the other in terms of the size of the orchid that I'm posting photos of. A few days ago I shared my tiny little Podangis dactyloceras, and today is my unwieldy and rather large Psychopsis.

Once it a while all the spikes are flowering at once, so I snapped some quick phone photos outside since the plant is too large for my usual black background studio set up. I plan on trying to take some better photos this weekend, especially a close up of the 'butterfly' flowers!

The plant is 9 years old, and the spikes are all between 2 and 7 years old. They've been blooming non stop that entire time, with usually about 6 weeks (more in the winter) between one bloom fading and the next one flowering. When the spike is a couple years old the growing/blooming tip often dies off. Usually a side shoot will sprout and take over flowering a few months later. One of the spikes has actually branched twice already. The golden rule with Psychopsis is to never, ever cut a spike off at the base until it is clearly entire completely dead! Last year I had 5 simultaneously flowering spikes, but I didn't take a photo and the fifth spike (8 years old!) finally died this spring.

[SouthPark]

That's beautiful! You might even qualify to put in a guiness records for the longest psy spike!

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

That's beautiful! You might even qualify to put in a guiness records for the longest psy spike!

I have no idea how long spikes usually are, but on my plant they are all about 1m/3ft long! Finding space for it is getting challenging.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by camille1585

I have no idea how long spikes usually are, but on my plant they are all about 1m/3ft long! Finding space for it is getting challenging.

Amazing! Thanks for putting those measurements up in the thread!

I think it's awesome how the spike is so strong like that hahaha. It's like a fishing rod!

Privileged to be able to see such a nice flowering display.

[DirtyCoconuts]

amazing!!! thank you for sharing!

[estación seca]

Wonderful!

I'm always interested in what other plants people with limited space grow. Is that the purple with white spots Petunia?

[Roberta]

Spectacular psychopsis! Advantage... they keep a small footprint with those long, vertical spikes. A terrific flush bloom!

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Wonderful!

I'm always interested in what other plants people with limited space grow. Is that the purple with white spots Petunia?

The petunia in the background is plain pink/purple, but I have some Starry Night Petunias in a pot on the ground. I buy some every year, I love them! It's interesting how they range from purples sprinkled with white, to nearly completely white, and it seems linked to the environmental conditions.The photos are from 2 different years, but I see that variation also in one season on the same plants.

Originally Posted by Roberta

Spectacular psychopsis! Advantage... they keep a small footprint with those long, vertical spikes. A terrific flush bloom!

Yes, although the long spikes are a bit difficult to manage, the plant itself doesn't take up much space, compared to say, my Max tenuifolia. It lives on the top of my shelving unit so it can grow as high as it wants, but in the summer it has to compete with my Catasetum, which also takes up quite a bit of vertical space.

[Dollythehun]

Wow. My foliage looks way different than yours, Camille. I have four spikes in continuing bloom. Lovely job.

How are you growing your Max tenufolia?

[WaterWitchin]

Goals for my little Psychopsis-es... The Mendenhall Hildos I've had for a few years has yet to put out its first spike, but wasn't mature when it was given to me. The Mariposa recently had its first bloom, and it was super exciting for me. I can't wait for another. Hurry up Psychopsis!

PS I've grown that Starry Nights as well. Supposedly, the more temperature drop it gets from day to night, the more white stars on the bloom. I've noticed that with mine toward fall when temperature variance is less.