repotting psychopsis

[silken]

I just got my first one a few weeks ago and the leaves are different than plump cattleyas or phals and not like most oncidiums either. Rather firm and quite flat and with a course or dry texture. I think it is normal unless yours is actually wrinkled or something.

[gardengirl13]

Originally Posted by silken

I just got my first one a few weeks ago and the leaves are different than plump cattleyas or phals and not like most oncidiums either. Rather firm and quite flat and with a course or dry texture. I think it is normal unless yours is actually wrinkled or something.

Ok thanks so much!!! Sound just like mine! A firm coarse texture! I am seeing a tiny bit of green near the base of some roots, so I'm hoping it's happy and starting to grow a little!


I really hate to hijack even more, but how does everyone deal with the lighting for these guys? I currently have mine in a window that gets a decent amount of sun, mostly it's there right now because in the last 6 weeks I think we've seen the sun maybe 4 days total! I think it may be too bright. I was thinking of moving it to a little bookcase I have by my shelving unit that's right in the window, it'll get a small amount of very early sun, then nothing the rest of the day. I know they're good with phal, but I don't have room on that eastern window right now. I was going to put him in the bathroom, I have a shelf that's perpendicular to an eastern window, maybe 18 inches from it. But I worry it's not enough light. It's a bright room, but only maybe 1 hour of sun a day as we have very big overhangs from the roof. But it's even fairly bright in the pm.

If there was an outlet I would just get an LED light for the shelf, but the bathroom, get this, only has one outlet! Better then our last rental, the bathroom didn't have an outlet! The house was built in the 1700's and they never updated the electric in that room.

[danjdob]

yeah the leaves of psychopsis are dry feeling and leathery they do not feel like many other orchid leaves. my plant feels the same as yours ...the newer leaves seem somewhat softer and a brighter green with lighter markings .where the older leaves are darker with more prominant markings and stiffer feeling.

i have mine outside and they get early morning dappled sun and bright indirect light through the day..i cant say if this is good or bad just yet...ill let you know if this plant puts out any spikes.

[silken]

I just noticed that mine has a spike about 1 inch long! I have it under 1 T5 bulb and on a heat mat as the greenhouse in other areas is a bit cooler than this might like.

[danjdob]

here in florida its been getting cooler especially at night ... i dont expect to see any spikes on this plant until spring,.. but we shall see...when it spikes i hope ill get several at once....there are at least four mature pseudobulbs that have not yet flowered. it should be spectacular.

[james mickelso]

psycopsis leaves are firm and the surface is tough. Much like some of the larger catts and sobrailias. Care must be taken with watering. Lots of air flow.