Should I re-pot?

[mattryan]

I have this mini cym and I am wondering if it should be re-potted? It had 6 spikes and is growing 6 new pbulbs. I know they like to be pot bound, but is it going to be too pot bound when these pbulbs mature? Also where in Canada can I get pumice? Thanks for the help.

Cheryl

[Mira-Claude]

I, personally, would repot.
As for pumice in Canada... here: Home

[Cym Ladye]

Mattryan,

ABSOLUTELY, REPOT! Why do you want pumice?

Cym Ladye

[AJW]

Go for it, I would also ask "Why pumice" ?
When you re-pot look at the drainage and air flow capability of your pot as you not only need drainage but air flow around the roots.

[WhiteRabbit]

I use pumice in most of my orchid mixes, tho it's not a necessity. I just pot cyms in plastic nursery pots with drainage holes at the bottom.

[mattryan]

I ask because that is what is in the mix now and they 3 of them are growing great. I thought I would just try it instead of perilite that falls apart. I find that here they don't dry out very fast with just bark, is there something else I could try if not pumice? Thanks for the help.

Cheryl

[mattryan]

Is this not pumice? If not what is it then Thanks.

Cheryl

[WhiteRabbit]

That looks like pumice - I get pumice at hardware store or retail nursery.

I do not allow my Cyms to dry out.

[mattryan]

I didn't mean dry out completely, I meant I find that I'm watering maybe every 2 weeks or more. Even longer in winter. The standard cym I have I would like to be able to make my mix more airy. It seems that my other cyms don't stay wet as long. The ones with the pumice in them. Hope I haven't completely confused you.

Cheryl

[james mickelso]

I would repot carefully by just taking them out of the pots they are in and putting them into the next size pot. They could stay in the pots they are in for now but they would end up suffering next year. You will find that the roots are packed in so tightly and because the new growths are so far along, any damage to the new roots would stunt them. Next year, before the bulbs put out new growth, pot them. You can carefully tease out the old media and put into larger pots that will allow two years growth. I grow some of my cyms in lava rock and they do great because the lava rock doesn't hold too much water, just moisture. Cyms like to be moist but not wet. Their roots hold a lot of moisture and they are tightly packed so drainage is a must along with good air circulation. With the roots so tightly packed the only real way to get rid of the excess moisture is to give them increased air movement. A fan works well. When you repot them you will find that the roots circle the outside of the pot and the roots on the inside are starting to deteriorate. I repot every two years so that the media is kept fresh and the roots have room. Not a lot of room but enough to be able to get the old media out and new media in without damaging the roots. I also cut off the overly long roots to fit the plant into the pot. Not drastic pruning but a root that is twice as long as the pot is deep, I will cut in half. I let the plant heal for a day before putting it in a new pot. My cyms usually throw out one or two new growths for evey bulb from last season. Once they fit into a two gallon plastic pot, the next time I repot I split them in half. Then I give them away next flowering. Let us know how these do. They look very healthy.