Psyhopsis Mendenhall nutrient deficiency/re-pot ?

[Aki_James]

I’ve had this psychopsis for around 5 years now, I bought it as a single bulb at the orchid expo. It is without a doubt my easiest and most rewarding orchid in my collection.

The plant currently has 2 flower spikes which have given me a steady show of flowers for the last 2 years without fail.

I have not repotted this in about 3 or 4 years and am terrified to do so!!! Every time I go to re-pot it I freak out and don’t as I don’t want to kill the plant, But I’m certain I have no choice at this point. It is currently putting out 4 leads all at different stages of growth.

Although the new growths still seem to come out beautifully I have noticed all the older leaves looking rather sickly and the new leaves turn the same shortly after maturity.Has anyone seen this before? I’m assuming it is a nutrient deficiency of some kind and am considering removing the spikes so it can focus on growth. I do have a pretty steady fertilizer routine but it’s the only cause I can think of.

Any ideas? I adore this plant more than anything, it would break my heart to lose it!

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I can't get to Photobucket. The connection times out.

[Paphluvr]

So repot it already! It sounds as if you're worried about it not doing well but you're also worried about repotting it. If it's been that long since your last repot chances are that the mix is broken down and that is what is causing your problem. It will also give you a chance to examine the roots. It's not a difficult task, just make sure to pre-moisten the new mix before repotting. Do you have any orchid friends that might be able to assist you (or any local orchid societies)?

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He might be worried because these are reputed to dislike repotting. A great grower in our society has hers in a very low, very wide pot of large bark. She periodically removes and replaces old bark chunks. When she was growing the plant to its current size, she says she lifted it out of the old pot, allowed chunks to fall off, set it into the new pot and filled in with new bark.

[Aki_James]

Thank you

The mix is not broken down in the least from what I see, I keep this plant very much on the dry side and only water when I see the pseudo bulbs loose those luster as this plant seems to love to dry quickly. I have it in a shallow clear pot and it’s got an extensive healthy root system with very few dead roots.

I’m thinking I may try to just drop pot it into a bigger pot and disturb the roots as little as possible because yes i have heard these despise root disturbance. I will loose sone roots for sure as a great portion have grown out of the bottom of the pot into the catch pot it’s placed in.

I guess I will just take the plunge and go for it🤷🏻*♂️.

Many thanks!

[camille1585]

Is there any way for you to post photos a different way or uplaod them to the site? Photobucket changed their policies last year, and posted can only be linked to on other sites by paying a hefty fee.

I ask because I'm afraid that we may be missing something. I also waited a long time before repotting mine (6 years) and the 'symptoms' I had were limited to less and slower growth. I didn't do a proper repot to avoid disturbing it to much. Mine is in a net pot dropped in a clear plastic pot, and I simply wriggled out as many bark chunks as I could and didn't touch the mass of roots that had grown in the outer pot. Plant is happy now.

[Ray]

I will also question the nutrient deficiency.

►What is the formula of the fertilizer you use?

►At what concentration do you mix it up - real numbers please, no relative statements like "half strength".

►How often do you feed?

[Aki_James]

Originally Posted by Ray

I will also question the nutrient deficiency.

►What is the formula of the fertilizer you use?

►At what concentration do you mix it up - real numbers please, no relative statements like "half strength".

►How often do you feed?

My fertalizing routine is as follows.

I alternate between a 25-10-10 water soluble fertilizer mixed at 3ml per 5L of water, and a bloom booster 15-30-15 mixed at the same ratio.

I alternate each with a regular soak and flush in between with Plain water.

This is if I’m only required to water once a week, if I need to water more than once on any give no week I use plain water.

FYI-plain water is tap water that I store in 5G pail so the chlorine can evaporate.

I should add that I grow this in very high light along with my Cattleyas, nodosa and Encyclias, I have it pulled back about a foot from my south window so it is somewhat shaded by the larger plants in front. I have tried growing it in less light but any place other than that window in my house is not near enough light and it looses all the mottling on the leaves, which I was under the assumption meant it was too low of light levels.

[Aki_James]

Apologies

Took me a few tries to figure out how to post pictures now, I guess photobucket it pretty much useless these days.

As you can see the new growth grows beautifully and quickly but soon after pseudo-bulb maturity the leaves do the same thing.

I will get more info on my exact fertilizer routine when I get home from work. As I don’t recall my exact measurements, but I alternate with a high nitrogen and a bloom booster.

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You had to tease us with a Miltoniopsis.