Onc. Mendenhall 'Hildos' FFC/AOS

[Selmo]

Got this in 2009 as a one leaf plant. Each year it grew one more leaf. Now it has about ten leaves, and finally bloomed. We have other Psychopsis, so we knew what to expect. But just love those blotchy leaves, green circles on a red back ground.

[Selmo]

Here are those amazing leaves. Doing it this way, because I can only load one picture at a time. Probably, my old computer, but I like it.

[Dollythehun]

I have those on my wish list but, understand they are finicky and prone to sudden death. Thoughts?

[Selmo]

I have heard that to. This is our second go around with this. The first time, the vendor said not to repot it, just leave it alone, they don't like to be moved. That one slowly died over 18 months. This time, we poted the small piece we got from a friend. It has been repoted twice since 2009 (once every 3 years or so) and has done well. We keep it like most of our Oncidiums, well watered (moist, not soggy),part shade (50% or so), and intermediate temps (low 50F/high 85F). Dolly I don't know if this helps, but if you are thinking Psychopsis, I would suggest this one.

[Dollythehun]

Thanks, Selmo! It is on my wish list. Those leaves are killer, for sure. Moist? I need to work on that, through the OB, I learned that I underwater. 🤔

[Jeff214]

very nice, Selmo!

I too bought a single psuedobulb of a noid psychopsis two years ago. It's been putting on a leaf a year - I guess I have 5+ more years to go, huh?

After purchase, I immediately repotted in bark. It sulked for a year and started to rot. I saved it by burying it in cinnamon for sometime... Currently it's at PB #3.

While I grow many other types of plants, this was probably not the best type to get as my first orchid. I hope mine grows into something great like yours.

Best,

[alexharisiadis]

I have a psychopsis mendenhall as well that appears to be going gangbusters. After an adjustment period after acquiring it, I finally got it into a location it seems to be happiest in. Within the last year, it grew two new bulb/leaf structures, and within the last 2 weeks, I've noticed that two NEW bulb/leaf structures are starting to come up as well!

I believe this will bring the total number of bulbs to between 7-8 or so, which leads me to wonder --- when should I expect a spike??

[estación seca]

Psychopsis Mendenhall = Pyp. Butterfly x Pyp. papilio

Pyp. Butterfly = Pyp. sanderae x Pyp. papilio

If you search on Psychopsis papilio, you may find the Baker cultural sheet available as a free sample download. Of course Mendenhall is a hybrid, so it might be more vigorous and easy-to-care-for than its ancestors, and 'Hildos' might have been picked by somebody from a seedling tray for vigorous growth before it flowered and was named.

I read the Baker sheet and learned Pyp. papilio is a true intermediate orchid from moderately high elevation, with near-constant daytime temperatures and pronounced cooling at night through the year. It lives epiphytically in tall, dense forest and is not an especially high-light species. It is not common in lower, drier and warmer parts of its range.

[Selmo]

Thanks estacion, for information. We have a couple of Psy. papilios which seem to be a little larger than the 'mendenhall' . The leaves are a little longer and wider, and the pseudobulbs a little bigger. The papilio leaves have some mottling but nonthing like the ' mendenhall''s. Aren't many as neat as it's. Do grow both outside during the summer to keep them cooler than in the greenhouse, but it will still get 100F on some days. Have them in pots and mounted, we'll see which do better. Thanks agian, estacion

[jkofferdahl]

These are great plants, and in my experience Psychopsis are about as tough as an orchid can be. Some years ago I ordered three from a now-defunct seller in New England. They were shipped in early February; when they were, the Zip Code on the package was wrong. The incorrect Zip Code caused the Post Office to lost the package for about 3 weeks, meaning the plants sat somewhere in a cold warehouse for three weeks in February. They did finally arrive, and not only still looked great but soon all three spiked, then stayed in bloom for about 2 years.