Follow up to cymbidium orchid with brown spots, repotted 2 months ago, leaves floppy

[Nmari]

Hi
I posted in early February about this plant. I sprayed with antiphos about one moth ago and am not watering as often (weekly if that). It is not autumn here in Melbourne. About one week ago the smaller leaf section stayed becoming floppy and the other section of leaves now also doesn't seem as firm. I just saw a baby cockroach exiting the bark. What should I do? What is happening? Repot differently? Can I save this plant?
This is my original post below. The first two photos are the current shots. The photos with the red circles are from the original post two months ago.

Originally Posted by Nmari

Hi
I received this miniature cymbidium orchid from someone who didn't have the time to care for it. It seemed ok but had a few scales on it. I repotted it a few weeks ago into a bark only (recommended for my region, Melbourne, Australia) and have had it in bright indirect sun since then. It tends to be a warm spot that's fairly humid as it's under a verandah. I sterilised the secateurs first with metholated spirits. I've watered it a few times a week since then, not allowing it to sit in water. It's dinner here and we've had some very very hot days. It developed these spots both on the ends of the leaves and on the body of some of the leaves and one turned yellow and soft. I don't know if I've watered too much, too little, or it has a fungus or other infection?? There were some nice green roots when I reported it as well as some dead ones, which I cut off. The origins of some of the roots have been visible between the ball as the bark has moved. Please help!

[Dollythehun]

That plant looks overpotted to me.

[SouthPark]

nmari ----- it's coming into quite cold times now where you live, right? So orchids might start slowing down growth rate.

Watch out for the combination of very cold AND very wet roots.

As for the cockroaches ----- that's ok. If a plant is growing outside, then all sorts of insects can go into the media, but the orchid will still be ok.

What you could do ----- is to water the media (bark) in the regions toward the rim (edge) of the pot. So dump water into the media toward the rim. The bark around the sides can then stay very wet, while the orchid can still get moisture without getting overwhelmed with too much water.

This doesn't mean that the bark closer to the orchid should stay dry. It doesn't have to. Some water can be applied - but less of it. Just avoid making the bark directly underneath (and near the roots) stay ultra wet all or most of the time.

Also - watch out for super dry bark. Because super dry bark repels water, so that if we water super dry bark, then water can just run right out of the pot, and the orchid can then just die from dehydration because hardly water gets into the individual pieces of media. That is, water will just roll straight off the surface of a super dry piece of bark, like water off a duck's back.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

That plant looks overpotted to me.

I agree. Wrong time of year to be repotting in Australia though, so watering needs to be reduced, not being soggy is really important. SouthPark has some good advice on gently watering.

[rbarata]

One should never aim for good looking leaves in Cymbidiums...in my experience, those are the ones with the ugliest leaves, especially if grown outside.

The problem with overpotting is not so much rot but slow growth, even if they grow new pbulbs.

Look at the photo bellow...
When I got a pbulb of this one, because I had no smaller pot, I used this one. It is growing each year but until the pot becomes small it won't grow much. It was potted maybe 4 or 5 years ago. I know it will but only bloomed once.



If temps in your area don't go bellow freezing, it can be outside, sheltered from the rain for now. Once established, it will take everything without a problem.

Cymbs like to be neglected.

[SouthPark]

Hi rbarata! That cymbidium looks nice. I've never grown one before, but just looking at the central region of the pot where there's no green growth. Is that due to regular behaviour ----- the cym grows outwards?

If not regular behaviour, then would the slow growth possibly be due to too much water in the central region? And the orchid could have been just flghting to grow? Just asking only!

I've been slowly searching to see if we have any Cymbidium Claude Pepper here in Australia. Fingers crossed!

Originally Posted by rbarata

Cymbs like to be neglected.

We have to start up a thread called 'cymbidium abuse ends here' (together with the 'phal abuse ends here' thread hahaha).

[Roberta]

In my experience, Cyms tend to grow to the edge of the pot. They bloom best just before they break the pot... until then they tend to grow roots and leaves. And make back bulbs. Underpotting is a good idea (they like "tight shoes")

[aliceinwl]

I’m not advocating this, but my mom majorly overpotted all of her Cymbidiums in coarse fir bark. They seem to be growing fine and they bloom every year. I’m not sure what makes the difference.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by aliceinwl

I’m not advocating this, but my mom majorly overpotted all of her Cymbidiums in coarse fir bark. They seem to be growing fine and they bloom every year. I’m not sure what makes the difference.

Overpotting tends to create wet, airless space in the middle of the pot... If the bark is fairly large, the drainage and airflow may be adequate to compensate for the overpotting. People also get away with potting Cyms in the ground - if the soil is sandy and well-drained. Cyms are tough... more than one way to give them what they want... moist not soggy, good drainage (which also makes room for air)

[SouthPark]

These words .... overpot and underpot ... sometimes we have to think about the meanings - and consider the relevance. Regardless of the size of pot ... the grower can often set up the conditions to achieve certain objectives. If a pot is large .... then the media size and type can be chosen. And there's no limit on the types and sizes - such as more than one sort of media .... or different sized media in different layers. Watering technique. How much water to apply, when to apply, and where to apply. There are variations and choices that can be made to get nice results.

On the other hand ... I know what is being said about 'overpot' in terms of usual growing methods though .... so not disagreeing with recommendations at all here!!!