Psychopsis keeps blasting buds

This orchid appears to be healthy and is growing fast in my greenhouse.
It already had a tall spike when Katie (Desertgal) gave it to me and I was excited when the first flower bud swelled under my care.

However, that bud grew to full size and then fell off. I just attributed the bud blast to the sudden change in growing conditions from Katie's house to mine.

Then I got a second flower bud a few weeks later. It grew to full size again and fell off. I was on my third bud and it appeared to be growing ok until it dried up this morning and fell off.

I'm not that familiar with Psychopsis but I think I am keeping it under the proper conditions (at least for the plant - not sure about the flowers).

Here are some pictures:

Picture of the entire plant. It is potted in a plastic pot with a mixture of perlite, charcoal and small fir bark. The plastic pot is then placed inside a bigger clay pot for stability.
The leaves get around 3000-3500fc at noon.


I read that the purple mottling on the leaves is an indication of proper light. Do you think it is getting too much light?


Name tag


Flower bud that fell off


The tip of the spike showing a new bud starting to swell.


Growing conditions:
Winter: 3000-3500fc light at noon. 65F day / 45F night.
Summer: 3000-3500fc light at noon. 90F day / 65F night.

Humidity is kept between 40%-60% in the GH.

Any ideas on what might be happening with the flowers?
Too much light? Too cold/hot?

Also, should I just cut the tall spike now and let the plant rest and get a fresh start?

Thanks
John

J9hn, I give mine less light in the summer than in the winter. Try dropping the light back a bit and see if it makes a difference. I have never run into the problem you are experiencing so I am not positive light is the issue.

__________________
I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe.

I've never experienced bud blast with mine so I can't be of much help. Could it be a pest of some sort? I've read that these are quite prone to getting scale on their spikes.

You have my sympathy though - it's SO frustrating when it happens. I just lost 2 buds on my Max. rufescens for no reason that I can think of, there's a third one developing so I'm keeping everything crossed.

Odd. I would agree with Ron, although the leaves look okay, that maybe cutting back on light. The only time I've lost a bud on one of mine was when it missed watering while I was traveling. Good luck with this one.

__________________
Diane

"NA BEAN DO'N CHAT GUN LAMHAINN"

I agree. I have one almost in continual bloom in Phal conditions.

__________________
I took a taxi from LA to Venus in 1985.

Thanks for the info.
The only way I can give this plant any less light is to bring it indoors.
I will bring it inside with the rest of the phals under CFL lights and see what happens.

I thought these were sun lovers. I must be mistaken

John

I grow all mine in an east facing window, if you have one of those, since we are in the same area, it should get the same light mine get.

__________________
Diane

"NA BEAN DO'N CHAT GUN LAMHAINN"

I think your medium dry out too quickly and it didn't get the moisture it required. therefor the bud keep dropping. I water my every other day and mist it almost everyday and let it dry out a bit in the winter. The light is fine, keep it where it is right now and increase water and see what happen. Last by not least, don't forget to fertilizer it.

Is the clay pot allowing the roots to get enough air? Maybe try taking it out of the clay pot for a while.
What are you growing in s/h pots?

I would up the water on it a little , a balancing act between light /heat and water . Mine is on the west wall of the greenhouse , in moss in a slat basket it does not like to dry all the way out ,or be disturbed , thin roots . Gin

__________________
Never put off until tomorrow what you can avoid all together.