cymbidium and winter rest q's - Orchid Board

guppylove1985 · #1 02-25-2009, 09:24 PM

I just picked up a couple cymbidiums, one of which looks like the roots are exploding out of the pot lol. I'm new to orchids, and I've read that some orchids including cyms need a rest period. Does this affect whether or not I should repot now? Can someone explain what my watering schedule should be like for these plants? Thanks!

Also, I got an oncidium 'sharry baby', and I'm just wanting to make sure the bulbs look healthy, since I really don't know myself.

(..._...) · #2 02-25-2009, 09:39 PM

Well the new growth on your sharry baby looks healthy, but judging on the lack of foliage on the older pseudobulbs, and their size compared to that of the growth, is it possible that these were propagated using older back-bulbs? But at any rate, they look healthy.

Cam

guppylove1985 · #3 02-25-2009, 09:44 PM

thanks for the reply cam, I'm glad to hear the new growth looks healthy. I bought the sharry baby at the orchid show in edmonton last weekend, I'm not sure how the person I bought it from propagated it, unfortunately. What would it mean if it had been propagated using older back bulbs?

(..._...) · #4 02-25-2009, 09:53 PM

Well its just a way of starting new plants; say you have a mature sharry baby with far too many older, leafless pseudobulbs, if you separated them and pot them up, they send out a new growth, and become a new plant. I just say that because the pseudobulbs look older, with the ridges and all, but not shrivelled due to lack of watering, but also because normally, a new growth the size of yours would normally have smaller pseudobulbs before it. I bought my sharry baby as a rather large plant, so I cant say for sure, but you might have to wait until next years growth before getting it to bloom.

Quote:

Originally Posted by guppylove1985

thanks for the reply cam, I'm glad to hear the new growth looks healthy. I bought the sharry baby at the orchid show in edmonton last weekend, I'm not sure how the person I bought it from propagated it, unfortunately. What would it mean if it had been propagated using older back bulbs?

guppylove1985 · #5 02-25-2009, 10:18 PM

ahhh I see, yes that's probably how this plant came to be then. I don't mind waiting until next year for the blooms, it will just make the reward that much sweeter when they do

nikv · #6 02-26-2009, 09:31 PM

In terms of your Cymbidium, it looks to be very healthy. I can't tell whether that is a new flower spike or a new growth that is forming. Typically, cymbidiums should be repotted right after they bloom. So if it's a bloom spike, hold off on repotting it. Right now, mature plants are in the midst of their bloom season. I divide or repot my cymbidiums in April or May here in California. I water them once per week and give them 20-20-20 Osmocote fertilizer. They seem to do fine with it. Good luck!

Brenda Aarts · #7 02-26-2009, 10:07 PM

My cymbidiums are kept outside until October or so every fall (until first frost). From what I have read and heard most cymbids like a bit of a rest period until they prepare to flower in the spring. I have had good luck keeping them in a shop window kept approx 60 degrees this winter, with west window light and water only once a week. I have recently moved 5 of the plants into my home as they in various stages of blooming, the remaining ones I will leave until the spikes are further along (and I make more room in my home). Good luck, looks like a nice healthy plant.

Cym Ladye · #8 02-27-2009, 01:07 PM

Guppylove,

You have a new growth on the Cymbidium, and with proper care during the next few months, it should send out a bloom spike this fall. The plant definitely needs potting up into a larger pot. Rather than go into all the do's and don'ts of repotting, I will refer you to earlier threads on the OB for instructions. Do not hesitate to ask more questions if you cannot find specific problems unanswered.

As to a rest period for Cymbidiums, my answer after many years of growing the genus is NEVER! The growth may slow down in the cooler months which is generally during the bloom period, but it NEVER totally stops. Any healthy blooming plant should show new growth in one stage or another.

Good luck,

CL

guppylove1985 · #9 03-02-2009, 10:07 PM

Thanks so much for your informative replies everyone, to be honest I hadn't even noticed the new growth O.O But once it was pointed out, I checked the other plant and it has a new shoot too! Not bad for plants bought at 50% off at a Home Depot