How to grow Psychopsis orchids - or in this case how to think you killed two plants first!

Yes plant lovers time to reveal my psycho Psychopsis family which sounds like a Venezuelian soap opera! First I think one dies...I miraculously find another plant....I think it dies TOO!!..then even more miraculously I find a flowering plant...and then the first two come back to life and are evil twins! Not quite - but it's a journey with these sensitive sequential blooming orchids! The orchids I mention in this video are:
Psychopsis papilio flavum - from Panama NOT Ecuador - sorry!!
Psychopsis Mendenhall 'Hildos'
Let me know your psycho Psychopsis dramas!
This is my other Paphiopedilum video:
• Paphiopedilum orchid c...
And this is Miss Orchid Girls Psychopsis video that triggered my whole search:
• Orchid Care - How to c...
0:00 introduction
0:45 I buy Psychopsis Mendenhall 'Hildos' #1!
1:01 I buy Psychopsis Mendenhall 'Hildos' #2!
1:19 I buy Psychopsis papilio flavum in flower
1:58 flower colour specifics
2:15 name origin
2:32 pollination
3:01 species orchid that's an epiphyte
3:09 pseudo bulb and leaf description
3:21 sequential blooming
4:09 potting medium
4:23 flower details
4:47 temperature
5:06 light
5:19 watering
5:52 fertilizer
6:32 where new buds form
7:12 tree fern mounted Psychopsis Mendenhall 'Hildos'
8:53 potting a mounted orchid!
9:19 dying leaves
11:17 replacement Psychopsis Mendenhall 'Hildos'
11:47 re-potting into terracotta

[@PaNdeM0niuM]

From experience Psychopsis like: 1) AIRY media. It helps to use a net pot or pots with extra holes. Very prone to root rot 2) Warm to hot temperatures. My plant thrived in the Sydney summer 30+degreesC. 3) lots of very Bright light (Direct morning sun is fine. But NO direct afternoon sun) 4) high humidity 5) whilst they like an airy and well-drained mix, they don't like to dry out for extended periods. So water just before approaching dryness 6) in Winter (when temperatures drop below 10degreesC), greatly reduce watering. Water every 10-14days. 7) spikes start to emerge in Spring. Spikes take up to 3months to form.

[@helloplantlovers]

Many thanks!

[@kingfisherblues57]

I just received my very first Psychopsis Mendenhall Hildos two days ago. It is small (in a 3" pot) and has yet to produce a flower spike. My previous experience with Orchids is limited to very common Phalaenopsis orchids found at Walmart and some grocery stores across the US. I have had great success with those, but they are quite easy to care for. Anyway, I highly value your expertise, as you give me the confidence to do well with my Psychopsis as well! Thanks. I would love to visit Australia someday. 😉

[@helloplantlovers]

Good luck with it! My only advice would be careful of root rot - they are somewhat prone to that affliction!

[@daisyflower4105]

You are a funny guy 😂. I have one on my Sydney balcony. It’s been there all winter . Still a baby ..

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@Winterheart00]

2 years and you are still my favorite orchid vlogger. You sound so classy and professional and I love your voice! Normally I dont like videos that talks much about personal things, but I genuinely like your stories!!! ❤ I just got a Mendelhall (not alba) with Spike now. :) any new update from this orchid of yours? How long until it rebloomed again?

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching! The news is - its dead! The other two Psychopsis I have are alive and well but this one succumbed to root rot.

[@matthewcondon1985]

LOVE Psychopsis orchids!!! I have a seedling that I’ve had for a year now. It put out a nice new growth a couple months ago and is just now putting out a second.

[@deemaxwell4172]

Same as you, I saw Psychopsis mariposa on Dani's channel and fell immediately in love with it. Found one at the nursery here in Montreal. It sat and sulked for 2 years. It only put up 2 new leaves and I had just about given up when this June it put up a flower spike. Then in July spike #2. And finally in Aug spike #3!!! All of them seemed to have synced up and flower now at the same time. Each spike is a bit shorter than the one preceding it so it looks spectacular on its very own plant stand. Last year I bought another one, this time an alba version so it should be paler...but it's still sulking. Oh well!

[@helloplantlovers]

Oh wow!!!! Triumphs from the Psychopsis front line!!! Mine are still sulking - new leaves - we'll see - mine are coming into year two!

[@HolidayGlow]

This has DEFINITELY gone on my 'must find' list and even better that it's an indoor one!

[@helloplantlovers]

Good luck! It's fabulous!

[@erickorlandocastilloflores4447]

I’ve just discovered your channel watching this video. Let me tell you this: the information you’ve gave me already it’s invaluable. This weekend I bought my own Pyp. Mendenhall and I had no idea how to take care of it. Thank you very much Greetings from Mexico!! 🇲🇽

[@helloplantlovers]

Good luck and thanks for finding me! In essence treat it like an Oncidium but be VIGILANT against root rot! Doesn't like soggy roots!

[@matthewcondon1985]

Matthew, I first commented when I saw the new video, but just now got around to watching it. You are just too entertaining. 😜 I’ve been to Mendenhall Road and visited Carter and Holmes who hybridized Mendenhall hildos. Indeed, Mendenhall was the name of the original family who lived on that land in South Carolina USA. But, I don’t remember what hildos comes from. That’s the psychopsis I have too, the leaves are amazing on mine!

[@helloplantlovers]

Oh how interesting! Thank you Matthew. I find the history around many plant names fascinating! And yes, the leaves are glorious. My two near death ones now seem very happy!

[@bigbowlowrong4694]

I’m glad to see another Melbourne tropical grower (who doesn’t have a greenhouse or an elaborate indoor growing space). To successfully grow these plants down here takes a lot of care and attention - if you grow them in Brisbane or Darwin or whatever, you’re doing exotic plants on easy mode😆

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching - yes! And I think being realistic about what will grow too!

[@michelleandrade1424]

Such a pleasure to watch 👍

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@costadenae4692]

What a beautiful flower!! and what a roller-coaster of emotions comes with orchid growing. Ever since I saw your video on your Sarcochilus orchid, i have been trying to find one but so far no luck, and now you have given me another to add to my wish list. Happy Growing

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching....it is funny how things turn up though! Where abouts are you? Orchid Group sales are often a way to locate the harder to find types!

[@marlonrodriguez7553]

I love psychopsis orchids. I hope your two hildos are flourishing 10 months since posting that video. I have a yellow variety similar to the one you have in bloom. Unfortunately, I treated it very poorly and it dropped both its flower spikes, but I've resolved to give it my utmost care. Lets see how quickly I can get it to bounce back.

[@helloplantlovers]

Good luck! yes....the Hildos are doing fine....still waiting for a spike on either though!

[@user-pk9bd7qd3c]

Greetings from Ohio. I bought my first psychopsis last week. It arrived with a small spike. Sunny indirect light has been a challenge. I have lots of orchids but still struggling to find that sweet spot. Lots of greenery but very few flowering.

[@helloplantlovers]

Good luck! You'll find it!

[@haraldgroner6645]

Great stories👍

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@besottedorchids3605]

Exciting to watch your video. I've been wanting a psychosis . After seeing one in person this week then watching your video, I purchased my first from ebay

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for finding me! Basically the same care as for an oncidium. One of mine had root rot - which they are prone too - but has a new growth & roots - so check the roots on your purchase. Good luck!

[@JuliesOrchids]

Beautiful, I was just lucky today and found a tiny tiny Pychopsis Kalihi 'big" seedling over here in Perth and bought it straight away. I do enjoy your videos, thanks for sharing your experiences with us. have a happy weekend. :)

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching - lucky find!!!!

[@bibicheknauf4163]

I bought one also from a grower and it came via shipping. It looked beautiful with a new pseudo bulb and within a few weeks, the new pseudo bulb totally rot on me😩. I was devastated and ready to throw the entire plant out but kept it and, so far, no new pseudo bulbs (and it must have happened almost 6 months ago😱) but no more rotting either🤞🏻

[@helloplantlovers]

Oh lucky you! My two hildos are doing well so here's to a flower spike in 2022!

[@olyv4411]

What a lovely psycho family you have! 😂 I will never stop to be amazed with huge veriety of forms and colours of orchids. This one blooming papillio alba form is #1 in my wish list. It's smart idea to plant mounted orchid if my place's humidity is different from grower's one in stead of constant spraying.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching! AND for reinforcing my "plant the mount" approach!

[@MattbyNature]

I have one like this as well and it's really well-behaved. Working on a second spike as well. I find that in my environment it needs more hydration than other plants so I have mine in somewhat tight moss. I have also planted mounts into bark before - in my case Tolumnias haha

[@helloplantlovers]

I'm not alone then!

[@besottedorchids3605]

Love your psycho family so much more than mine. Lol orchid psychos are much nicer. I have a mendenhall that I'm waiting to spike.

[@helloplantlovers]

Ha! Well the psycho news is that this one turned up it's toes and succumbed to root rot - they are prone to that! The other two are thriving though.

[@besottedorchids3605]

I have a spike!!!!!about an inch at the moment

[@helloplantlovers]

@@besottedorchids3605 Lucky you!!! Good luck - such a fabulous flower! 👏👏

[@trishsmith2811]

Oh I just love your posts! You make me laugh, and right now, that is worth it’s weight in … rare orchids! You must keep your partner in stitches! Anyhow, I bought a psychopsis mendenhall that was shipped to me in Feb. (late winter) with a heat pack but somehow the newest leaf was broken and the pseudobulb is now looking pretty sad. I’ve been worrying about it for the last month thinking it was set back a year or two or it was going to die! :-( you have given me hope! Could you tell me when yours showed new growth? Spring, summer, fall? I won’t fret so much maybe if I know when new growth will begin. Thanks!

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching! My remaining psychopsis' both produced new growths in spring, but one actually has a new growth appearing now, early autumn, but that COULD be a flower spike! They both started to produced new growths almost as soon as the old leaves dropped so I'm not sure about the seasonality of new growth. I'd just be careful about the moisture levels whilst its deciding to revive! Good luck with it!

[@sassysucculent6291]

Your wonderful 💜

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!! I try.

[@andreianifourcault2245]

Thank you for the explanations I am going to try again because mine was really killed...

[@helloplantlovers]

Oh no!!!! I think the key is try and find one in your local area so the relocation shock isn't too much!

[@andreianifourcault2245]

@@helloplantlovers Thank you very much!

[@illutionary]

Any help on tracking down a place to order one of the yellow psychosis would be appreciated. I love this channel and glad I found it.You are very relatable in how you present these topics.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching! In Australia I've only seen flasks of this particular orchid for sale. I bought this plant over the counter at Fitzroy Nursery the day before a lockdown which was a complete fluke! Never seen it anywhere since. I would keep trying ebay, and orchid club selling events; all depends where you are. Any type of Psychopsis is hard to find in Australia. Good luck though!

[@illutionary]

@@helloplantlovers I found one on ebay on my birthday this year! thanks for the reply :)

[@helloplantlovers]

@@illutionary Hurrah!

[@gammgmm]

I learned the hard way that they love water. I've lost 3 new pseudobulbs! It was in a small pot so it did dried out very quickly. Now it seems to do better in a bigger pot. Hope it does well.

[@helloplantlovers]

Ah good luck! My two near death ones have a made a full recovery and the flowering one continues to flower. Once yours settles in it will hopefully flourish.

[@4loveoffish]

I bought two mendenhalls too and both lost every leaf except one. I thought they were a goner too. Now a new little leaf is coming from one and the other is in a holding pattern . Both had awful roots and I had to repot and cut off a bunch of dead ones . Maybe in a year I might have a much healthier plant .

[@helloplantlovers]

Oh well done! A year since I made this video and mine are still producing leaves.....but not a flower spike in sight! Heigh ho! Sensitive little things!

[@4loveoffish]

@@helloplantlovers do you think a different type of fertilizer might work ? I’m using one from repot me and I had some new phal’s that I had to do a lot of work on with the roots when I got them and wasn’t sure if they would be ok. They are growing new leaves and another is growing a flower spike . I fertilize each time I wanter with repot me orchid fertilizer.

[@melortahir6937]

I have one. It blooms almost every month

[@helloplantlovers]

Aren't they fabulous!

[@adriandunn2301]

Hi Matthew, lt's Carol from Melbourne. My phychopsis has three flower spikes which bloom continuously. My problem is when to repot it, because it is always in flower. I haven't repotted it for six years! What do you suggest? I value your opinion. I follow you weekly, after coming across your channel some 15 months ago ( when l was watching The Horticulturalists - which btw, you two are just fabulous! ). Thanks again.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching BOTH channels!! Hmmm; dilemma! If you repot you could set the orchid back for a year or more as they don't seem to like disturbance, and you could lose the flower spikes and the plant may take some time to flower again. So firstly, does it really need to be repotted? If it's happy, roots look good, produces new leaves and is continually in bloom it might not need a repot. However if it does then there's nothing you can really do but go for it and see what happens! I would reppot it when the roots are in active growth though - so if there is a new growth that would be a good time. Good luck either way!

[@adriandunn2301]

Thanks so much. It does look happy, with lovely large leaves. I will keep an eye on it!

[@debragrace-johnson3789]

Happy New Year! How long did it take before you saw growth on your Psychosis?

[@helloplantlovers]

Hi there - alas this was one of the tragedies of 2021 and it succumbed to root rot! The other two are still doing well and both have pushed out new growths and I just noticed another which MIGHT even be a flower spike. Both the ones I thought wouldn't make it have sent out a new growth within 12 months.

[@andremerrett]

May I please ask what nursery you bought the flowering one from? 😌

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching and of course! it was: fitzroynursery.com.au/

[@besottedorchids3605]

Matthew, can u update that new growth? Is it a spike,? Curious, as I just spotted a similar one on mine. Thank you

[@besottedorchids3605]

Mine is also Hildos

[@helloplantlovers]

Alas - the Psychopsis papilio succumbed to root rot! But the other two hildos are doing well and one has produced a second growth spike since I made this film. When one of them produces a flower spike I'll do an update on them both. Good luck with yours!

[@besottedorchids3605]

@@helloplantlovers rip little butterfly 🦋

[@khaleelyoousuf4181]

Hi , i live in india tamilnadu kallakurichi please google 😎 temperatures in summer max 42 c and in winter 15-26 . please suggest me some orchid that i can grow

[@helloplantlovers]

Hello! Thanks for watching! Wow - with your climate you could grow just about anything except the cold/cool climate orchids! The best bet would be to find an orchid group/society in your state and see what other people are growing and go from there. But literally you could grow almost anything! VERY different to my experience here! Lucky you! Also this company is in your state and has great growing instructions for all the types they sell which I imagine suit your climate: www.gunaorchids.com/