Psygmorchis pusilla – 365 days of orchids – day 950
Psygmorchis pusilla (previously called Oncidium pusilla) which is a large flowered miniature twig epiphyte from Central America. The plant here is 3cm high with a 2cm bright yellow flower.
This is a species we have seen growing in Guatemala and Belize in hot dryish lowland forest on thin branches and twigs. The photo below was taken in Guatemala where the plant was growing and flowering near Yaxha in the Mayan Biosphere Reserve.
All the plants we have seen in the wild have been small and in cultivation we find the species can be short lived but profusely flowering on short spikes that produce lots of flowers successively.
We have had plants regularly flower in flask (see below)
When we take plants out of flask we find that they do best mounted as they seem to resent compost around their roots. The natural habitat is most like out Warm Americas section with minimum 15C and bright light but we grow plants amongst our asian miniatures on a wire mesh hanging at the front of the bench in Warm Asia.
Plants are sprayed from a hose daily. (Psygmorchis pusilla is flowering at the bottom, left of centre.)
Discussion