Potting Mix for Cymbidium?

[JMN16150]

Hello, I want to try to grow a cymbidium really badly, but I'm worried about its potting mix needs. I've read that you can't use regular potting mix and I find the little bags of bark mix quite expensive just to fill a bigger pot with. IS it possible to use something like wood mulch and add drainage supplements like perlite and pumice for cymbidiums? Thank you. Sorry for this awkward question

[rbarata]

Pine bark, only. That's the only thing (and best) you need.

[WhiteRabbit]

Commercial nurseries and some hardware stores may carry larger bags of orchid (fir bark). You can add perlite and/or charcoal, pumice, tho some people grow in just the fir bark alone.

[rbarata]

As I've told you, pine bark is the best thing...here's a pic of 3 cymb bulbs I planted a week ago using it. I just need to give them water and wait.

[bil]

rbarata, I didn't know you could break them up so small. I thought they needed a minimum number of pbulbs?

Wrto potting medium, yeah, mine that I put into decent sized bark are very happy from last year. This year I bought two more, and their pots were splitting, just a solid plug of roots, so I put them into bark and nothing else.

Look for large sacks of bark chips that are used as mulch or path dressing. MUCH cheaper.

[rbarata]

rbarata, I didn't know you could break them up so small. I thought they needed a minimum number of pbulbs?

Nope... as long as they are alive, they'll kick!
When I was in Madeira Island a few years ago, you could buy cymb bulbs...all of them were unitary, without roots or anything...just the bulb. The treatment is the same...pine bark as shown...water...and patience.

[bil]

Originally Posted by rbarata

Nope... as long as they are alive, they'll kick!
When I was in Madeira Island a few years ago, you could buy cymb bulbs...all of them were unitary, without roots or anything...just the bulb. The treatment is the same...pine bark as shown...water...and patience.

Damn, I had always read that they needed a certain number of bulbs to be viable. Thanks, I just learned something new.

So, just HOW much patience? How long do they take to go from a single bulb to flowering?

[rbarata]

I don't know it one bulb only works everywhere... in my climate it works. Maybe in some other climate, it won't.
Where do you live in spain?

So, just HOW much patience? How long do they take to go from a single bulb to flowering?

Well, with a very good development of the plant, never less than two years.
Some of mine needed 8 years (one of them never bloomed, I can't even remember the flower picture I saw when I bought it 8 years ago) But these "cases" are special because I had them not in the best environment for years, by ignorance.

[WhiteRabbit]

Cyms are quite easy to propagate from single back bulbs.

[rbarata]

Cyms are quite easy to propagate from single back bulbs.

And I find it very rewarding to see a complete new plant born from a bulb and turn into a flower "factory".