Psychopsis in normal potting soil...

[Jeff214]

Hello!

I apologize in advance for posting another psychopsis potting question...

I received a psychopsis in the mail today (hurrah!) but it's potted in soil-based potting mix. It's extremely water retentive - it feels more damp than the soil I use for growing vegetables?? Reading the other psychp posts... this seems like a one way ticket to orchid heaven.

I don't see any new growth, but it has a 4" spike. I'm a bit worried to re-pot, but I think it is best that I re-pot in something much more draining like a coarse bark mix.

I just wanted to double check with you guys before I killed it by re-potting at a bad time over killing it with a poor draining medium.

Thanks!

[silken]

There is something called Pro Mix that looks a lot like soil but isn't. Orchids sometimes come in that from nurseries. So it could be that. My Psychopsis is very thirsty so that might be why it is in that if it is Pro Mix. If you are re-potting, there is no point waiting for it to finish blooming as they bloom on and on for a long time. I have read that they don't like being re-potted, but I never noticed mine sulk or anything.

You could also contact the vendors and ask what the mix is and why they chose to pot in that.

[astrid]

I agree with silken. If you check the roots and they're all white or green and healthy looking, don't worry about repotting it so quickly. I am sure it could stay in there a long time. I left my miltoniopsis orchids in their promix pot for their bloom duration, and they seemed to enjoy it.

If you leave it in this mix, just water it less often. I think I watered my miltoniopsis orchids once every 11-14 days when they were in that stuff because it dried evenly and was really nice.

All that said, repotting ASAP is a great idea with any orchid you take come, because nasty little stowaways like centipedes, snails, mites, and slugs can be hiding out in the media.

Be careful not to break the developing spike... I've broken so many small new growths during repots. I'm a real dingo sometimes.

My psychopsis was a rescue with only about 5 roots and I have set it in a potting mix with some sphagnum moss layered over the top. It took about 5 months, but it is laying down long new roots and even a new pseudobulb now!

I think different orchids sulking might be an old fish tale... I think sometimes in gardening communities online an idea is repeated so much that it gains merit without substance.
Enjoy your orchid!!

[Jeff214]

Thanks, Silken and Astrid - for your advice.

I have a few orchids in pro-mix but this felt a bit different... but in any case, one of the smaller bulbs was shriveling yellowish black and the roots looked slightly brown... I treated with 3% peroxide and re-potted in a bark mix. After a week, the spike started to grow a bit more again... so... I think my psychopsis is doing ok... for now!

Astrid, I hope your psychopsis makes a full recovery and flowers soon!

[Ray]

Silken and Astrid have some valid points, BUT...

If that potting medium is not good for your growing conditions and watering habits, the current condition of the roots is irrelevant.

The choice of pot and potting medium is not determined by the plant alone.

[astrid]

Originally Posted by Ray

Silken and Astrid have some valid points, BUT...

If that potting medium is not good for your growing conditions and watering habits, the current condition of the roots is irrelevant.

The choice of pot and potting medium is not determined by the plant alone.

100% second this! While mounts thrive for me, other climates may be too hot or dry for them to be a practical indoor home growing method, for example.

Thanks for catching what we missed.

[Jackie26085]

I repotted my psychopsis in a bark and sphagnum mix from the pro-mix recently and the last I checked one pseudobulb rotted, one spike yellowed, and now two more leaves yellowed. Even worse, most if not all the roots died! I'm doing everything to save it. It's been in seaweed, superthrive, etc. but it's not looking good. I never believed that an orchid hates repotting but now I do.

[Mandy2705]

Oh no Jackie, I am sorry. There is no one way to grow orchids and it's really a learning process and along the way we may lose some orchids. The one thing we can do is just keep trying and eventually you will find what works especially for you. Now some people will leave the rotted psuedobulb and some people would suggest you remove it. In my opinion and based on my experience, the rot usually spends to the connected psuedobulbs if I don't remove it. I would twist it off and put a cinnamon/water paste on the area where the psuedobulb was removed. I wouldn't soak the media the orchid is in but spray it so it is damp but not soggy wet. Eventually, new roots should emerge. This is the perfect time for this to happen bc it is the season in which most orchids grow new roots and bulbs. I would also recommend that you cut the spike and any other emerging spikes so the orchid focuses on growing roots. Also put it somewhere where it gets good ventilation and it is warm.

[Jackie26085]

Hi Mandy, I twisted off the rotten bulb immediately but noticed that more roots have died. I'm very tempted to cut off the remaining spike but we shall see. The other concerning thing is that I've noticed many fungus gnats emerging from this brand new medium, which indicates rot. I've moved it outside and let nature take care of it.

[Mandy2705]

Keep us posted Jackie, good luck with everything