Are my Psychopsis ready for S/H?

[maelstrom mike]

I just recently received three Psychopsis in the mail. they took a while getting here and I've been trying to water them to plump the bulbs up a bit. One came with the beginning of a spike (~2 inches). I knocked the one with the spike over this morning while moving some plants around and it pretty much came all the way out of the pot. It was already disturbed from shipping and an inch out of the pot. I would really like to move them all to S/H right now, but only one has a new growth with roots coming off it. The other two have roots growing, but no new growths yet. I'm going to post the three different plants separately with pictures as to not confuse anyone.

[maelstrom mike]

Here's the mendenhall 'Hildos'. This one has a new growth with roots. I'm not worried about moving this one to S/H. What is this procedure of moving it to water first and then to S/H? Can anybody send me a link to a thread or site that explains this in great detail, please?

[maelstrom mike]

This is the healthiest looking one. It has lots of roots above the medium that still have growing tips, but no new growths.

[maelstrom mike]

This is the PITA that won't stay in its pot. Again, no new growth aside from the spike coming up. It does have some fairly small roots currently growing near at the base, but I don't know how old they are (most likely not new).

When is the appropriate time to move plants to water culture before switching to S/H if I decide to go that route?

[addictedcountryman]

Semi-Hydroponics Detailed Information - First Rays LLC

[maelstrom mike]

Originally Posted by addictedcountryman

Semi-Hydroponics Detailed Information - First Rays LLC

Thanks addictedcountryman, I have already looked through all of Ray's information. I am more in need of information on submerged water culture and could use a few reputed sources. Plus, I would appreciate any input on whether or not to transfer the 'maybe' new growthers into S/H right now.

[addictedcountryman]

I have read a few threads on water culture on here and I have seen several YouTube videos, but I'm not entirely sure how reputable those are. I believe transferring to water culture would also follow the same method of waiting until new root growth so that the roots grow into the water, but again, I'm not entirely sure. good luck!

[camille1585]

I would not switch twice. Pick a method and stick with it, but don't stress them out twice, it won't help the plant adjust better. Especially Psychopsis, which hate being disturbed. Water culture (plant suspended with base/roots in a container of water) tends to work best to save rootless/in bad shape orchids, I don't know of examples where people grew plants successfully that way in the long term.

The best time to transfer to S/H is when the plant is producing new growths with new roots appearing. So the first one should be good to go, though I don't see where the new growth is in the photo? As to the others, you have mature bulbs with some new roots, but I don't know if that's good enough to make the move to S/H

[Ray]

And I will add that psychopsis don't every like to be disturbed, so be prepared to baby them, no matter which way you go.

[maelstrom mike]

Originally Posted by camille1585

I would not switch twice. Pick a method and stick with it, but don't stress them out twice, it won't help the plant adjust better. Especially Psychopsis, which hate being disturbed. Water culture (plant suspended with base/roots in a container of water) tends to work best to save rootless/in bad shape orchids, I don't know of examples where people grew plants successfully that way in the long term.

The best time to transfer to S/H is when the plant is producing new growths with new roots appearing. So the first one should be good to go, though I don't see where the new growth is in the photo? As to the others, you have mature bulbs with some new roots, but I don't know if that's good enough to make the move to S/H

Thanks Camille! That's what I wanted to hear about water culture. I will not go that route. Sorry for the bad photo too. The growth is coming straight out at you from the bottom left corner of the plant. It's not very good at showing it.

I will wait until the other two have started growing new bulbs and roots before I transplant them. I could use the time to observe their habit and how they respond to different watering and light.

Thanks for your input everybody!