Psychopsis in S/H
This revived psychopsis thread reminded me to report that I finally made the break. For over a year, I have been wanting to repot my two Psy. Mendenhall 'Monarch' plants. They came in tiny clay pots, packed tightly in aging sphag. It was a constant balancing act getting them enough water but not too much. They were getting increasingly top heavy and awkward. But I dreaded repotting them because I kept reading how much they hated having their roots disturbed.
I finally bit the bullet and spent a good hour picking all the sphag bits from around their roots and washing them off good. And then I made the big move; I had been wanting to put them in s/h, which in this dry climate, is a good way to get even moisture to a plant. There had been recent root growth, so I figured this was as good a time as any.
They both went into one pot. For the first three weeks, I would soak the medium well once a week, but not leave any water in the reservoir. Now I have started to fill the reservoir as needed, like with my other s/h plants.
It has only been about a month, but the plants don't seem to have noticed they were repotted. Buds are still swelling, and new spikes still lengthening. I think they like it!
These are such fun orchids to grow, and now they will be much easier for me to manage.
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