Psychopsis repotting?
 

I just got a Psychopsis. The plant looks very healthy and is starting two new growths.

Unfortunately during shipping, its clay pot broke in a million pieces, and the delicate root system broke in many places (specially all the new green root tips :(( and all the mix is gone.

So i have to repot it and I have no clue if these guys like to be constantly humid in the roots or dry quickly. I read lots of conflicting information online. Some say spaghnum works the best while others claim it does better mounted or in a basket with very coarse mix so it can dry quickly :scratchhead:

Any suggestions ??

I got a tip from a very good source recently concerning Oncidiums...they do very well in Coconut Husk Chips.
I have to go get some myself to repot the 5 or 6 'chids that are sitting around not doing much :)

Mine is in a slat basket in Spag. not packed tight , when it needs changing I pick out the old and replace it with new . They don't like to be disturbed . Mounted is also good . Gin

I just repotted mine a few days ago - guess its going on a week now. I use chopped sphag and coarse rok. No problems repotting both times. (IMHO) The faster you work, the easier the transplant takes.

:D

Hi;Psychopsis species do not normally do well with frequent disturbance,so pot it in something long lasting, in a small clay pot,as they also require perfect drainage.
Read up on its requirements, as its not usually thought of as a beginers plant.
Spiro.

What about potting in S/H......Hydroton or PrimeAgra. Anyone had luck with this type of culture?

thanks for your suggestions. I'm now torn between lava rock or the coconut chips.. :)

Mine is planted in lava rock in a clay pot as suggested by the vender as it doesn't like repotting. After 2 years the seedling has grown tremendously and this summer it sent up three spikes. One spike has produced two blooms consecutively and looks like more will be produced and the other two spikes are showing buds. :banana:

Joanie, if your plant is well grown, it should put out consecutive flowers for a long, long time, mine have been doing this since December 2006 to the point where its becoming boring...(not!), mine are grown in large bark to dry out quickly and watered twice a week.

Pals

I just purchased one from lilrocorchids. *happy dance*

So glad to know that they don't like being disturbed!

Palito,
If you haven't already re-potted it, you could go for the lava rock/hydroton (we call it hydroleca in the U.K., small clay balls, are we talking about the same thing?). All the data suggests they don't like to have their roots kept wet and stress is always put on good drainage (hence mounting them) and they are known to dislike disturbance. I wouldn't use moss as this can stay wet/moist for some time, coconut chunks not bad but can also stay too moist and of course eventually breaks down so you have to re-pot and disturb the plant. Clay/lava/hydroton is inert so in theory should not break down and not need changing (can some-one now invent orchids that water themselves?) If mine hadn't arrived in coarse bark, I would have put them in clay in a slatted basket because I've noticed even with Hydroleca, it can be quite dry at the top but quite damp at the bottom of the pot, in this way there should be a more even drying out and its very easy to give them more water when they look dry, its very hard to take it out !

Pals

hi Pals

I went for the lava rock. It's the first time I use it. I dont know how long it takes to get dry, but i hope it works!