I grow mine in eastern sun. I've tried full sun and it the leaves burned and the plants appeared stressed. I put them under a tree where they get some morning and late afternoon sun.

The more growths more spikes. I recommend higher light than recommended, but not full sun. They like being kept cooler and need good air circulation or you can get rot.

Encourage your growths to get multiple spikes.

In this poor photo, this plant has 5 spikes and has mottled leaves. The tricky part is getting all the spikes to flower at the same time...almost impossible.

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Under the tree in August
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Jane

The thing with Psychopsis is that they seem to adapt to a whole bunch of conditions and will still die, all of a sudden, for no obvious reason. There are members of my orchid society who grow them in full sun next to Vandas, while I grow mine next to Phals, where they were perfectly happy and bloomed non-stop. And we have the same exact cross, purchased from the same vendor at the same time. I've had some die for no obvious reasons, too, and have heard many similar stories. My suggestion would be to gradually move it into the higher light you had luck with in the past, and keep a very close eye on it for signs of stress. And pray to a higher power that it doesn't die.

Good luck!

Julie

You can get the spikes to bloom at the same time by pinching off the existing buds at one time. They all start to rebud at the same time. It is the "trick" they use to get a Psychopsis awarded with multiple blooms open.

Brooke

Ooh, that's a great trick, Brooke! I'm definitely going to try that one on my alba Psychopsis papilio - I'd love to have blooms on all nine spikes for our show in April.

Thanks!

Julie

Julie figure out how long it takes for them to go from losing a bloom until the next bloom appears on that spike, then pinch them all off in time for them to bloom again.

Bill Thoms in FL had that in an article a year or so ago. I've stored that piece of info for future use :>)

Brooke

I love Bill Thoms! I definitely think it's time to have him back to speak to our society. Note to self... (Being program chair of my society has got to have SOME perks.)

But anyways, Brooke, do you remember where the article was published and the topic? Definitely sounds like it'd be worth reading and with so little spare time these days, I've let my various orchid magazines pile up in their original wrappings this last year. Given our show is in April, I don't know how much time I have for experimentation. I think I'll pinch tonight and cross my fingers.

Cheers,

Julie

I really don't remember but it was an article describing how he gets orchids ready for judging. Guessing I'd say at least a year ago.

Brooke

I grew my last BIG one that had over 10 spikes in constant bloom for over 10 years, hanging from a plumeria tree,in a cedar basket. In the summer, it would be in dabbled light all day. Can't do much about the heat here in south Fla. but it grew great, it developed the mottled/striped leaves in a short time. This one is all green and is a yonug plant with 2 spikes. IF I am going to get it use to living in the plumeria tree..now is the time, it is currently defoliated, then in like March it will get its blooms and then the leaves appear, and it gets dappled light and anything hanging from it gets protection from direct sun.

Like I said, I cant do anything about the heat. So hanging from the tree, it gets all the air circulation it can take.
I saw that picture of the plant in the window. Here in Fla. we dont have the luck to have the room to put a piece of furniture in a window for an orchid like this. At least not in my little home. All my window ledges are very thin, and are full of african violets, all 4 exposures, I rotate them to either grow, or bloom. No room for a big orchid like this. With the long spikes,and wide flat leaves. So it has to go outside. So...will hanging it from the plumeria tree, which is totally bald now, and then puts out its flower spikes in about a month, then puts out it's leaves till Oct. protecting the orchids that are hanging from. Mainly Ryhs. Giganteas, and Cattleys varieties. It seems other here also have had the bad luck of their psychopsis just up and die on them for no reason.
My last one just up and died one day, two years ago,after 10 years in the same cedar basket and growing and blooming like crazy in that tree. No reason why. So...any other southerners growing outside? and can give hints to keep it growing and not end up rotting and dying practically overnight?